Policy Address

II. Build a Solid Foundation for Security while Upholding the Principle and Leveraging the Advantages of "One Country, Two Systems"

7. The principle of "One Country, Two Systems" is the best institutional safeguard for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. As stressed by President Xi Jinping in his important speech delivered on 1 July, "One Country, Two Systems" has been tested repeatedly in practice, so there is no reason for us to change such a good policy, and we must adhere to it in the long run. The President has set a definitive tone and given strong assurances to Hong Kong, dispelling past discussions over the principle of "One Country, Two Systems".

8. The top priority of the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" is to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. As clearly reflected from the experience over the past 25 years since our return to the Motherland, we must fully and faithfully implement the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", safeguard the HKSAR's constitutional basis and order as laid down by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China (the Constitution) and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (the Basic Law), implement the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and uphold the overarching principle of safeguarding national security. The more firmly the "One Country" principle is upheld, the greater strength the "Two Systems" will be unleashed.

9. Over the past 25 years, Hong Kong has overcome various challenges and forged ahead with progressive development. Our pace has not slowed despite the changing external environment, the impact of the epidemic and the social unrest previously. Nevertheless, the prosperity and stability we now enjoy cannot be taken for granted. Having restored order from chaos, we must stay alert to threats and dangers, adopt bottom-line thinking, and sustain our efforts in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests in order to guard vigilantly against the recurrence of threats. Following our transition from chaos to order, Hong Kong is advancing from stability to prosperity with our constitutional order better safeguarded and our governance systems improved. Development is of overriding importance. Hong Kong has considerable room for development given our sound foundation for growth, as well as the advantages of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems".