Lu Ping, a former Chinese official in charge of Hong Kong affairs, says the decision to allow spy-case scholar Li Shaomin to return shows the flexibility of the 'one country, two systems' policy.
'It shows the flexibility in how Hong Kong can handle problems with its highly autonomous powers,' Mr Lu said.
'Under international law, Li Shaomin cannot enter Hong Kong which is part of Chinese territory after he was expelled from the country. But as Hong Kong practises 'one country, two systems', he is allowed to return under special circumstances.'
There has been no official comment from Beijing on the return to Hong Kong last week of Dr Li, a City University scholar.
Dr Li was expelled from the mainland to the United States last month and returned to Hong Kong last week. He has been allowed to keep his job in the university's marketing department.
Mr Lu, former Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, was speaking with the Chinese newspaper World Journal in San Francisco.