'One country, two systems' has proved to be great success, white paper says

Hong Kong enjoys bright prospects for the development of democracy under the framework of "one country, two systems", officials said on Monday after a white paper on the special administrative region's democracy was released.

The white paper, titled "Hong Kong: Democratic Progress Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems", was issued Monday morning after the Hong Kong SAR successfully held its seventh Legislative Council election, the first such major exercise under the revamped electoral system.

With the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the improvement of the SAR's electoral system, the situation of "patriots administering Hong Kong" will be more stable, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said in a statement.

Hong Kong will enjoy a better environment of rule of law and business and a more harmonious social atmosphere, it said, adding that "there will be better conditions for effective solutions to deep-seated problems that have plagued Hong Kong for a long time".

Commenting on the consideration for publishing the document, the office said it was released to review the historical facts and reveal the truth to help people better understand the sincerity and goodwill of the central government for the development of Hong Kong's democracy and the efforts it has made in this regard.

It was issued to refute false ideas and respond to malicious slander so that people will better understand the nature of the development of Hong Kong's democracy and further forge consensus on developing the city's democracy in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems" and the Basic Law, the office said.

The white paper said, "Under British colonial rule, there was no democracy in Hong Kong."

After resuming the exercise of sovereignty, the Chinese government implemented the policy of "one country, two systems" and established the democratic system in the SAR, it noted.

It has since provided constant support to the region in developing its democratic system. "The determination, sincerity and efforts of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government to this end have remained consistent and are obvious to any objective observer," it added.

Facts have proved time and again that the anti-China agitators in Hong Kong and the foreign groups behind them must be held accountable for impeding Hong Kong's progress toward democracy, the white paper said.

To put an end to the political turmoil in Hong Kong in recent years, a series of major decisions have been taken by the CPC and the central government to restore order, including strengthening the central authorities' overall jurisdiction over the SAR in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, it said.

The white paper hailed the "one country, two systems" policy as a creative innovation of the CPC and the Chinese government that has proved to be a great success in Hong Kong.

"With their political vision, the CPC and the Chinese government are certain of the long-term success of the socialist system on the mainland," it said. "They are equally certain of the long-term success of both the capitalist system in Hong Kong and a form of democracy suited to its realities."

The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR said in a statement on Monday that the central government has always been steering the course for the development of democracy in Hong Kong and has supported and promoted this endeavor.

To develop and improve Hong Kong's democratic system is to enable Hong Kong residents to better exercise their democratic rights and ensure steady progress in the implementation of "one country, two systems", it said.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Monday that the SAR government fully welcomes the newly published white paper on Hong Kong's democracy, calling the release a timely move after the Legislative Council election.

Noting that the election was the first Legislative Council election after the electoral revamp, Lam said she foresaw criticism and allegations against the election in the near future.

"The best way to refute these allegations is to look back at the history," said Lam, adding that the facts are much more powerful than imagination and allegations, and the white paper provides a full account of the history and facts.

She also encouraged Hong Kong citizens, especially young people and students, to read it carefully to improve their understanding of the democratic development of the SAR.