Hong Kong’s first post-handover leader Tung Chee-hwa says ‘one country, two systems’ a success but work needed on housing and land issues
- Tung tells Chinese state media the system cannot work unless both elements taken into account
- The first chief executive after Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 did not mention the ongoing anti-government protests that have rocked the city for four months
Hong Kong’s first chief executive has insisted the governing principle that allows the city a certain degree of autonomy has been implemented “very successfully” despite the increasingly violent protests that are now in their fourth month.
In an interview published on Friday by state media China News Service, Tung Chee-hwa also said housing and land issues had not been handled properly, but he was confident they would be improved.
He stressed there was a need to take into account both the “one country” and the “two systems” to successfully implement the formula devised by China’s late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s.
“It will not work if you only implement ‘two systems’ while disregarding ‘one country’,” he said.
“On the other hand, it also will not work if you do not care about ‘two systems’ and only focus on ‘one country’.”
Hong Kong enjoys a higher degree of autonomy and certain freedom not allowed in mainland China under the formula.
“Deng Xiaoping recognised that some Hong Kong people might not like socialism and prefer capitalism,” Tung said, “It does not matter. Let [the capitalistic way of life] continue.”
He said to ensure the success of the system, Hong Kong people needed to have a deep understanding of the country.
Tung did not mention the long-standing protests in Hong Kong, triggered by an extradition bill that would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to mainland China and other jurisdictions the city did not have an existing agreement with.
“If you asked me the way forward, I would say ‘one country, two systems’ will continue and its implementation will be increasingly successful,” said Tung, also a vice-chairman of the mainland’s top advisory body, the China People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Tung has been recognised by Beijing for his contribution to Hong Kong, especially for upholding the “one country, two systems” principle during his tenure.
State news agency Xinhua announced on Tuesday that President Xi Jinping had signed a decree to award 42 people national medals and honorary titles, as part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Tung was among the recipients, who were mostly nominated by the Communist Party’s leadership in August.
Tung, the city’s first chief executive after its return to Chinese rule in 1997, was the only Hongkonger on the list.
He was given the honorary title of “outstanding contributor to one country, two systems”.
