Editorial | Safeguarding ‘one country, two systems’ must be the priority

There have been suggestions that the city’s relations with the central government would never be the same in the wake of the anti-extradition bill fiasco. Nearly five months have passed and the Hong Kong government is still struggling to contain the fallout. Meanwhile, Beijing is becoming increasingly critical of the protests. Even when the unrest eventually dies down, it would seem naive to think that it will be business as usual.

The communique issued at the end of the plenary session of the Communist Party Central Committee offered a glimpse into where we are heading. It was confirmed that the implementation of “one country, two systems” had been a key discussion item. While the emphasis on safeguarding national security stopped short of mentioning the city’s raging unrest, it was a clear reference to the perceived inadequacies in our legal system to deal with the problem. From Beijing’s perspective, the lack of a comprehensive national security law under Article 23 of the Basic Law remains an issue. Concerns were raised when the plenum mentioned the establishment of “a sound legal system and enforcement mechanism for the safeguarding of national security in the special administrative regions”. While the need for such legislation may seem stronger in the wake of the protests, how it can be done remains to be seen.

Similarly, the decisions to enhance the mechanism on the appointment of top government officials and the interpretation of the Basic Law by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee have also aroused concerns. With few details known at this stage, it may be premature to speculate on what it means for Hong Kong. The mechanisms are governed by clear provisions in the Basic Law. The party’s commitment to one country, two systems as a national governance principle also means measures to enhance national security and jurisdiction over the city shall be implemented according to such a principle. Hongkongers must realise that the stakes have become so high now that any wrong steps taken by protesters would further jeopardise the city’s relations with Beijing. There is also room for Beijing to reflect and better understand the situation. The crisis stems from years of governance woes. While individual actions might be seen as crossing the red line of sovereignty, a survey showed more than 80 per cent of the people were opposed to the city’s independence.

How one country, two systems evolves in future will be closely followed by the city and the world. While Beijing may see the need to adjust its policies on Hong Kong, such steps should be taken on the basis of transparency and mutual trust. This will help improve relations and strengthen confidence in one country, two systems.