Tung: 'Two systems' only possible under 'one country'

A vice-chairman of China's top political advisory body told Hong Kong on Sunday that "two systems" is possible only under "one country".

Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Hong Kong's first chief executive, noted that quite a few people in the city mention only "two systems" but are coy about "one country".

He made the remarks at a media luncheon also attended by Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, and Tam Yiu-chung, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature.

"The 'one country, two systems' principle is of paramount importance to Hong Kong," Tung said.

The setup is well-designed and well-conceived, and it has brought the city many benefits, he added.

But the principle — praised and admired by many politicians in other places and regions — went wrong in implementation, Tung said. Insufficient emphasis has been given to "one country" in the past, he said.

Without "one country", there would be no "two systems" to begin with, Tung said.

Agreeing with Tung, Leung placed high importance on the principle to Hong Kong. The city will lose its stability if it has no "one country, two systems", rule of law and solidarity. Nor will Hong Kong have any future, Leung added.

Tung and Leung are jointly launching an alliance to help Hong Kong start afresh after the city has been rocked by months of street violence and the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1,000 civic leaders from various sectors and age groups have thrown their weight behind the alliance, which Tam will lead.

Only solidarity can lift Hong Kong out of the current unprecedented crisis, Tung said, adding that this was his original goal of the alliance.

Unlike some people who intend to take the city down with them, the alliance, an open platform to attract those who want stability for Hong Kong, aims to bring Hong Kong stability, Leung said.

Another high hope for the alliance is finding a solution for the city's beleaguered youngsters, Tung said.

The youth is our future, and providing opportunities to them in an ever-changing time is a complex issue, Tung said. But it is a question that society would do well to ponder, he added.

The alliance will also center on helping the youngsters become employed in this turbulent time, Leung said.

According to an official web page pertaining to the soon-to-be-rolled-out alliance, revealed earlier, it will help Hong Kong to get a fresh start in various areas by sticking to "one country, two systems", reviving the city's battered economy, and restoring its rule of law.

Other civic leaders weighing in included business leader Li Ka-shing, and Maria Tam Wai-chu, deputy director of the Hong Kong SAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.