Last week, Hong Kong people witnessed a series of events that will lead to positive changes in the city’s political landscape. These changes, though unfamiliar to most of us, are sending out a positive signal. It’s time for the constructive forces to counteract the destructive forces who have brought chaos to Hong Kong for so long, and take back control of the city to help it shake off the current economic downturn. There are also other messages that are worth noting.
Firstly, ambiguity is no longer allowed in issues relating to the central government’s power over the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the comprehensive understanding and implementation of “one country, two systems”. Both the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR have publicly denounced the opposition legislators for maliciously filibustering in the Legislative Council. Their moves triggered heated debates over the interpretation of Article 22 of the Basic Law and the roles of the two offices. The opposition camp insisted that the two agencies’ comments amounted to interference in Hong Kong’s internal affairs in violation of Article 22. But the two agencies have solemnly rebutted such misleading accusations, maintaining they are not circumscribed by Article 22.
The signal was clear after the SAR government issued official statements on the matter. In a revised statement released on Sunday, the SAR government categorically clarified that the Liaison Office was not set up under Article 22, just a few hours after an initial statement mistakenly named the Liaison Office as a body established by the central government according to Article 22. The secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs later apologized, saying: “There were errors ... and there was confusion and misunderstanding. I deeply regret it!” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor reiterated on Tuesday that the two central government agencies are authorized and tasked to oversee the implementation of the Basic Law and “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong. The episode suggests ambiguity is no longer allowed concerning the central government’s power over the SAR. The SAR government should be cautious in handling relevant issues.
The central government has sent out a clear message: Maintaining the smooth implementation of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong is also in the interest of the international community
Another message suggests an appeasement policy is no longer an option. Hong Kong police arrested 15 key members of the opposition camp in a swoop on Saturday, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, barrister Martin Lee Chu-ming, and Lee Cheuk-yan, for their alleged roles in several unlawful protests last year. The opposition camp’s allegation of “political prosecution” is rather feeble as the arrests were supported by strong evidence and were strictly in accordance with Hong Kong laws, as the Security Bureau pointed out. Under the principle of “equality before the law”, those people must be arrested for the sake of fairness and justice. So, the question is not “Why?” but “Why not?” The message is clear: No one can get away with breaking the law, no matter how powerful he or she is, and political colors won’t shield a lawbreaker from legal liability.
Another important message is zero tolerance for acts that endanger national security. Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office, reiterated on April 15, National Security Education Day, the need for Hong Kong to enact sooner rather than later a national security law according to Article 23 of the Basic Law.
Some foreign governments and politicians, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, unsurprisingly expressed their “concerns” over the arrests. The HKMAO and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR have every reason to condemn those undue “concerns”, which are essentially intervention in the SAR’s law enforcement and rule of law. The message is clear: The central government will no longer tolerate any act that harms national security and other interests in Hong Kong. In response to those international “concerns”, the central government has sent out a clear message: Maintaining the smooth implementation of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong is also in the interest of the international community.
Hong Kong is arguably having a hard time. The latest unemployment figures are indeed worrying. The current economic hardship has made it all the more imperative to end political wrangling and social unrest. Winston Churchill, the wartime prime minister of the United Kingdom, once said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Determination is the best weapon of the central government authorities, the HKSAR government and the constructive forces in Hong Kong for taking back control of the SAR. Churchill also said: “I never ‘worry’ about action, but only about inaction.”
The author is senior research officer of the One Country Two Systems Research Institute.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
