From Dec 18 to 20, President Xi Jinping made an inspection tour in the Macao Special Administrative Region and delivered a series of significant speeches. He described the Macao SAR as “a pearl in the palm” of the motherland, noting its unique role in national development. He also said that the implementation of "one country, two systems" in Macao has stayed on the right track, and has been a universally-recognized success, with shining achievements. The city was ranked, by Forbes, the second richest region globally in terms of per capita GDP.
Similarly, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, since 2020, has also moved back to the right track, ending paralytic filibustering in its legislature as well as violence and chaos caused by the “black-clad” campaign.
Xi’s comments also apply to Hong Kong. For instance, he said, the “one country, two systems” policy is a good framework for maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of the SARs as well as for facilitating the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It is a system conducive to peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between different social systems, and it must be upheld in the long term and collectively safeguarded.
In addition to emphasizing the premise of “one country”, Xi stressed the importance of ensuring high-level security and promoting high-quality development. Security is the foundation of development, and development serves as the guarantee for security. Both must be pursued unwaveringly. Without security, all development becomes a mere illusion. For example, during the violent siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2019, residents couldn’t even commute through the nearby cross-harbor tunnel for work or school. How could development be possible under such circumstances?
Xi also urged the SARs to leverage their unique advantages to further contribute to national development, and enhance their competitiveness and global influence. He called for the SARs’ alignment with national development, better positioning themselves as bridges between the Chinese mainland and global economies. Indeed, the purpose of “one country, two systems” is for the SARs to serve as strategic connectors.
Macao exemplifies this role by linking the Chinese mainland with Portuguese-speaking countries. It has established stable trade relations with over 120 countries and regions and is a member of over 190 international organizations and institutions. The city is also the world’s only region where both Chinese and Portuguese are official languages, effectively facilitating economic cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Portuguese-speaking nations.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, has traditionally maintained close ties with English-speaking countries and regions. English remains one of Hong Kong’s official languages, and its legal system is rooted in common law, based on the principles of common law tradition. In recent years, Hong Kong has actively developed the international arbitration business, capitalizing on its unique advantages.
Another principle Xi emphasized is the need to uphold core values and promote inclusivity and harmony. This involves fostering patriotic values in both SARs, enhancing cultural exchanges, and uniting all constructive forces to build a broad consensus that supports the “one country, two systems”. Diversity is a key feature of the two SARs. In this context, the new Secretary for Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, shoulders significant responsibilities.
Xi Jinping also laid out four expectations for the SARs: Promote economic diversification; enhance governance effectiveness; build high-level platforms for global openness; maintain social harmony and stability.
Both SARs should align economic development with their unique strengths and resources while achieving appropriate diversification. Macao, benefiting from the central government’s development plans for Hengqin, has successfully diversified its economy to some extent. Similarly, Hong Kong must capitalize on opportunities such as the Northern Metropolis development plan, leveraging central government policies and Shenzhen’s tech capabilities to embrace innovation and diversify its own economy.
The expectation of “maintaining social harmony and stability” necessitates tackling concerns of residents. Measures taken by the HKSAR, such as increasing public housing and upgrading standards of subdivided flats, underscore Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s commitment to tackling the city’s long-standing issues. More efforts need to be made to cope with other issues, such as enabling elderly Hong Kong residents to retire in the Chinese mainland by enhancing the compatibility between Hong Kong’s and the mainland’s medical systems so that more retirees can effectively leverage the wider opportunities offered by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for their retirement planning.
The two SARs must make great efforts to meet the president’s expectations. Xi’s high expectations for the two SARs serve as both a challenge for the two SAR governments and a motivation for all residents to work together with the governments.
Given the two SARs’ unique positions and strengths, their ability to meet the central government’s expectations and realize the full potential of “one country, two systems” hinges on a strong leadership as well as the collective efforts of all residents.
The author is a former information coordinator of the HKSAR government and a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
