Upholding common law, tackling vested interests: Xi’s vision of Hong Kong strikes a chord
- The Chinese president praised Hong Kong for weathering the recent storm of unrest, as he doubled down on the ‘one country, two systems’ principle
- Local officials must now uphold the system of common law, tackle vested interests and strive to retain that which enhances city’s unique position and role
Depending on who you ask, either doom or boom awaits.
Indeed, the fact that Xi had to stress in his speech that there was no reason to change the one country, two systems formula of governance showed, for critics, how the city has transformed both in reality and perception.
Interestingly enough, while Xi said Beijing would remain resolute in implementing the principle and must adhere to it in the long run, he did not specify whether it would stay in place until 2047 or hint at what might come afterwards.
But it would be wrong to dismiss Xi’s speech out of hand as just another propaganda ploy. A closer reading shows that there is more to it than meets the eye.
Maintaining common law
Different people may draw different conclusions from Xi’s speech, but for this writer perhaps the most significant point was his public acknowledgement that Hong Kong’s common law system, which differs from the mainland’s system of socialist civil law, would be allowed to thrive.
In a rare move, Xi mentioned common law twice in the speech, emphasising that it should be maintained and acknowledging that the judiciary should exercise its power independently.
Common law, a legacy of British colonial rule, is the legal foundation on which Hong Kong’s reputation as an international financial, shipping and trading hub was built.
Xi’s assurances on common law should help ease concerns about the system’s survival in the years ahead, thus ensuring the vitality of the one country, two systems principle.
Taking on vested interests
Secondly, Xi’s call for Lee’s new administration to take bolder steps to “dismantle the barriers of vested interests” was also very significant.
We all know what, and where, Hong Kong’s structural weaknesses and inequalities are: they have been staring us in the face for the past two decades.
But progress has been largely blocked by the property cartel and other monopolies that used to wield unduly influence, both in the city and in Beijing.
Xi’s instruction should stiffen the Lee administration’s resolve to tackle long-standing issues such as housing, mobility, education and care for the elderly.
Local officials no longer have an excuse to dither or delay, as the Legislative Council is in the firm control of establishment figures – all political uncertainties and opposition having been removed.
Retaining Hong Kong’s advantages
Thirdly, local officials must heed Xi’s call for Hong Kong to maintain its “distinctive status and advantages” by maximising the opportunities that the city’s capitalist system provides to enhance its unique position and role.
They should support the things that have long proved to make Hong Kong tick, and guard against the line of thinking that says practices from the mainland should be copied for no other purpose than to try to please their masters in Beijing.
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This decision no doubt made officials in Beijing happy, but was it really necessary?
Retaining some old traditions would help the city maintain its unique character and improve its attractiveness. Even major mainland cities such as Shanghai and Tianjin have spent big money sprucing up old colonial-era buildings and structures, in the knowledge that their architectural style and storied past prove to be a big draw for tourists.
Wang Xiangwei is a former editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post. He is now based in Beijing as editorial adviser to the paper.