In the past few years, the internal and external environments of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have undergone momentous changes, particularly in the wake of the containment and suppression offensive of the United States and the West, especially in trade and technology, which have continued to escalate. The deglobalization trend is ascending, and various protectionism, unilateralism and trade restrictive measures are emerging.
The outlook for global trade is gloomy, and the World Trade Organization’s attemps to promote free and open trade become increasingly feeble. The country and the HKSAR are transitioning from old to new development momentum strenuously and with difficulty. They are facing severe internal and external environments and grave challenges today and in the future. For this reason, the implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle in Hong Kong has entered a new stage. Accordingly, President Xi Jinping’s expectations for Hong Kong, especially the SAR government, have also changed.
On Dec 19, Xi met with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in Macao and emphasized that the practice of “one country, two systems” has entered a new stage, and Hong Kong and Macao should make more significant achievements and attain better development. He also said that the country has high expectations for Hong Kong.
On Dec 20, Xi delivered an important speech on the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. This speech has an essential guiding significance for the future development of the two SARs.
Xi emphasized that the current and future periods are critical for comprehensively promoting the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. He pointedly said that the implementation of “one country, two systems” has entered a new stage. Achieving better development in Hong Kong and Macao and making more significant contributions to constructing a strong country and national rejuvenation are essential missions of “one country, two systems” in the new stage. Accordingly, Xi put forward four hopes for Macao, which also apply to Hong Kong. They include: strive to promote moderately diversified economic development; focus on improving the governance efficacy of the Macao SAR; strive to build a higher-level platform for opening up to the outside world; and make efforts to maintain social stability.
Xi’s speeches particularly emphasized that the practice of “one country, two systems” has entered a new stage because of the new domestic and international circumstances. Conceivably, in the new stage, China will consider and handle HKSAR’s affairs more from the perspective of the country and the nation. Hong Kong must also accurately position and play its role in national development and national rejuvenation. Consequently, Hong Kong’s internal reforms and innovations must also be undertaken with these goals in mind. I believe that Hong Kong’s fundamental tasks and missions in the new stage include: First, Hong Kong should be ready to undertake more critical tasks and fulfill glorious missions in the course of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation. This requires Hong Kong to more proactively align its development strategy with the national development strategy synergistically so that Hong Kong’s development strategy becomes an integral part of the national development strategy. This way, Hong Kong can obtain endless development momentum and opportunities from national development and leverage its unique advantages to better serve the country. To better respond to the country’s trust in the HKSAR, the city must plan its long-term development strategy at the SAR government’s top level and integrate it with the national development strategy. The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) provides an excellent opportunity to enhance the coordination of various policy bureaus and policy areas of the SAR government to achieve development goals more effectively. How to ensure the integrated development of education, technology and talent and build an international high-end talent hub are critical tests for the SAR government.
In short, Hong Kong has a long way to go in the new stage of “one country, two systems”. It must try to carry out all tasks and missions well, making unique contributions to constructing a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation. Of particularly importance is helping the country strengthen its international networks to resist containment and isolation from the US-led West. Hong Kong should not disappoint President Xi and the central government
Second, Hong Kong’s development strategy needs to contribute appropriately to the country’s policy of continued opening-up. Notwithstanding the containment, harassment, encirclement and isolation efforts of the US-led West, Hong Kong still has extensive international connections and close ties with overseas Chinese under “one country, two systems”. These extensive connections allow Hong Kong to play a significant role in connecting the country with the world and continuously expand the country’s international activity space. Hong Kong should strive to become a hub for finance, services, shipping, information and legal services for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and assist the country in strengthening the cohesion, depth and scope of cooperation and integration among those countries. Needless to say, Hong Kong must also try its best to maintain or even strengthen its economic, trade and financial ties with the US and the West.
To be a bridgehead for the country’s opening-up, Hong Kong must further enhance its openness, international status and influence. Because the US and its allies continue to distort the original intention and essence of “one country, two systems” and deliberately misinterpret its implementation in Hong Kong to discredit both Beijing and the SAR government, Hong Kong must comprehensively explain the historical and international significance of “one country, two systems” to global audiences, and vigorously publicize worldwide the successful practice of the “one country, two systems” principle in Hong Kong and its contributions to national unity, Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and the city’s bright prospects. It is imperative to highlight the development opportunities, assistance, and services that Hong Kong offers to other places as the global economic center of gravity shifts to Asia.
Third, to enhance the country and the HKSAR’s international influence and soft power, Hong Kong’s status as the “center of cultural exchanges between China and the West” should be further reinforced. There should be more opportunities to interact with Chinese and Western cultures through innovative institutional building and policy evolution. It will benefit the country if Hong Kong can promote the country’s excellent culture, especially traditional culture and a positive image of the country in a way that the international community can see and understand.
Fourth, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is an essential platform for the country to open up to the outside world, and it is also a project for China to trumpet its determination to reform and open up to the outside world. Hong Kong’s key role in the national development strategy is to play well the role of an “internal and external connector”. What is particularly important is that Hong Kong should lead the Greater Bay Area in “going global” and allow mainland cities in the region to use Hong Kong as a platform to connect with other parts of the world and establish close economic, trade and cultural ties with them. To achieve this goal, cities in the Greater Bay Area must align as much as possible with international standards regarding laws and regulations, professional standards, product and service criteria, and institutional arrangements. Since Hong Kong has already aligned with global standards in many aspects, it should shoulder the critical task of promoting the alignment of the Greater Bay Area with international standards.
Fifth, Hong Kong needs to become a talent hub for the country as a reservoir of talent. In an environment where xenophobia and isolationism are on the rise in the US and the West, more and more Chinese and other Asian scientists and professionals will leave Western countries. The country will vigorously entice those professionals to return to the motherland. However, some of them may consider Hong Kong, an international metropolis, more attractive in terms of its cultural atmosphere, working environment, and lifestyle. Hong Kong should create favorable conditions to attract talent from various countries and retain them so that they can settle in Hong Kong. Both the mainland and Hong Kong must devise various policies, measures and channels to allow those professionals who choose to settle in Hong Kong to serve the country through multiple exchanges and cooperation. In this way, Hong Kong is not only a talent hub for itself but also for the country.
Sixth, in completing various tasks and missions in the new stage of “one country, two systems”, the SAR government must be active and proactive in leading the community. And it must communicate and cooperate closely with the central government. At the same time, the SAR government also needs to mobilize and organize all sectors of Hong Kong society to work together toward common goals. Social organizations might do a better job in obtaining favorable outcomes in some areas than the government. For example, universities and companies can better attract overseas talent, and business organizations and civil groups can be more convincing in promoting the country and Hong Kong overseas.
Seventh, when fulfilling their tasks and completing their missions, the SAR government and all sectors of society must demonstrate their determination and courage for reform and the spirit of continuous innovation. After all, if we want to survive and develop in the face of “great changes unseen in a century”, as repeatedly underscored by Xi, it is unacceptable for Hong Kong to be complacent, conservative and inflexible. On the contrary, scrutinizing old ways of doing things with a critical spirit and learning from valuable experiences elsewhere with a humble attitude is essential.
Eighth, the world is in turmoil, with regional conflicts emerging. There are serious deficiencies in global governance. Global economic recovery is weak, and the haze of economic recession lingers. And the US and the West are stepping up their efforts to suppress China, including the HKSAR. The national security situation is complex, shifting and severe. Hong Kong must always maintain a vigilant attitude and preparedness for action and consistently do a good job in safeguarding national security and Hong Kong’s stability.
In short, Hong Kong has a long way to go in the new stage of “one country, two systems”. It must try to carry out all tasks and missions well, making unique contributions to constructing a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation. Of particularly importance is helping the country strengthen its international networks to resist containment and isolation from the US-led West. Hong Kong should not disappoint President Xi and the central government.
The author is a professor emeritus of sociology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a consultant for the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
