The Basic Law and One Country, Two Systems

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1Summary 重點摘要

Hong Kong returned in 1997; the Basic Law was enacted under the Constitution, and one country, two systems keeps Hong Kong's capitalist system unchanged for fifty years.

2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary

3Step by step Steps

1. Step 1: Learn the history of the handoverTo know the Basic Law, first know the history. In the late Qing, Britain ruled Hong Kong for over a century under unequal treaties. In the 1980s the nation decided to recover Hong Kong in 1997; after negotiations, China and Britain signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984. At midnight on 1 July 1997 the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was founded, the national flag and the bauhinia regional flag rose together, and Hong Kong ended colonial rule and returned to the motherland. Every 1 July, the Establishment Day of the Hong Kong SAR, reminds us of this important date.
2. Step 2: How the Constitution relates to the Basic LawThe Constitution and the Basic Law are like mother and child in law. The Constitution is the nation's fundamental law with the highest legal force, setting down the state's basic systems and citizens' fundamental rights and duties. The Basic Law is a national law enacted under Article 31 of the Constitution, specially providing the system practised in the Hong Kong SAR. So the Basic Law's authority comes from the Constitution, and together they form Hong Kong's constitutional basis. Simply put: the Constitution governs the whole country; the Basic Law details Hong Kong's system. Keep this order in mind and you will not confuse the two.
3. Step 3: Understand one country, two systemsOne country, two systems can be summed up in eight characters: one country, two systems. One country is the root: Hong Kong has been Chinese territory since ancient times, and after the handover it is a Special Administrative Region directly under the Central People's Government, with defence and foreign affairs handled by the centre. Two systems is the feature: the country as a whole practises socialism, while Hong Kong keeps its capitalist system and original way of life for fifty years. A picture helps: one country is the foundation and frame of a house, two systems are two rooms of different styles inside; only on a solid base can each room shine.
4. Step 4: Hong Kong people administering Hong KongHong Kong people administering Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy means Hong Kong affairs are run by Hong Kong people. The Basic Law authorises the SAR to exercise a high degree of autonomy, with executive power, legislative power and independent judicial power including final adjudication. The Chief Executive must be a Chinese citizen who is a permanent resident with twenty years of ordinary residence in Hong Kong, and principal officials must be Chinese citizens with fifteen years; the Legislative Council and the laws operate in Hong Kong's own way. Of course, a high degree of autonomy is not complete autonomy: the centre handles defence, foreign affairs and other matters the Basic Law provides — the balance between one country and two systems.
5. Step 5: An everyday example — freedom of religionFreedom of religion is the closest everyday example. The Basic Law provides that Hong Kong residents have freedom of belief, of preaching and of holding religious ceremonies. Today temples, churches and mosques stand side by side: people may burn incense at temples in the morning and attend church on Sunday without interfering with each other, and religious bodies run schools, hospitals and social services for the community. Under the socialist system of the mainland, the Constitution likewise protects citizens' freedom of religious belief. Both systems respect belief and people live in their own ways — a fine example of two systems side by side.
6. Step 6: An everyday example — China, Hong Kong at the OlympicsSport shows one country, two systems too. At the Olympics the nation has the China national team, while Hong Kong also has its own China, Hong Kong team: the two teams compete separately, each with its own flag, and results are counted separately. Why? Because the state and international sports bodies arranged for Hong Kong to enter international competitions under the name China, Hong Kong — the policy in action. At the Tokyo Olympics, when Cheung Ka Long won fencing gold and Siobhan Haughey took medals, Hong Kong cheered for the China, Hong Kong team; and we rejoiced just as much for the national team, for we all belong to one country.
7. Step 7: How one country and two systems relateFinally, see the relationship: one country is the root — only deep roots let leaves flourish; two systems are the leaves — lush leaves make the tree finer. Without one country, two systems cannot even be discussed; without the flexibility of two systems, Hong Kong could not use its strengths as a world city. Since the handover, Hong Kong's prosperity and stability prove that one country, two systems works. When we pupils understand this policy, we can make sense of the news, and when we grow up we can help guard it, so that Hong Kong keeps growing tall and strong.

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8Recap Recap

• Hong Kong returned on 1 July 1997 and the SAR was founded.
• The Constitution is the nation's fundamental law; the Basic Law was enacted under it.
• One country, two systems: Hong Kong keeps capitalism for fifty years.
• Hong Kong people administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.
• Freedom of religion and the China, Hong Kong team both show the policy in action.