During his talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday, visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke highly of the implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy in Hong Kong.

The policy has yielded good results, devoid of serious problems in spite of the fact that a new concept was being adopted, a fact which he described as "gratifying."

It is evident that the legal rights and freedoms of Hong Kong's people have been fully guaranteed, and the development course to date demonstrates that this will continue to be so. At the same time democratic construction is being steadily promoted in line with the Basic Law.

Although China does not base its confidence for what has been achieved in Hong Kong on the views of others, the prime minister's comments are welcome. It bears new testimony to the successful implementation of the innovative "one country, two systems" policy following the handover from British rule in 1997.

In the past six years, authorities at various levels on the mainland have acted strictly in accordance with the relevant rules, regulations and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). In so doing they have honestly implemented the principle of letting the "Hong Kong people govern Hong Kong."

In the face of woes plaguing Hong Kong, the central government has not withheld a helping hand, either during the Asian financial crisis or the recent outbreak of SARS, both of which had a devastating impact on the island.

The recently signed closer economic partnership agreement between Hong Kong and the mainland is another endeavour to pull Hong Kong out of the regional economic mire.

Under the pall of sluggishness, it is essential to maintain stability and concentrate on reviving the economy, which serves the fundamental interests of Hong Kong's people.

Experience tells us that a stable and prosperous Hong Kong is not only in the interests of all the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, but also conducive to foreign interests in Hong Kong.

(China Daily 07/23/2003 page4)