[NTDTV, Beijing time, July 03, 2022]On the eve of July 1 this year, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson publicly criticized the CCP for failing to fulfill its commitment to Hong Kong made 25 years ago. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian denied the Chinese government had any commitment to Hong Kong. Public opinion accuses Zhao of completely ignoring the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Hong Kong Basic Law.
July 1 this year marks the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong sovereignty to the Chinese government. At the press conference held by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the same day, a Bloomberg reporter asked: “British Prime Minister Johnson said last night that the actions of the Hong Kong SAR government violated the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which is the basis for Hong Kong’s return and the drafting of Hong Kong’s Basic Law. What’s your opinion?”
Zhao Lijian replied, “The UK has no sovereignty, no governance power, no supervision power over Hong Kong after its return, and there is no so-called ‘commitment’ at all.”
Previously, Johnson posted a short video on the Downing Street Prime Minister’s Office social platform account on June 30, indicating the British government’s position on the current situation in Hong Kong.
In the short video, Johnson criticized the Chinese government for failing to abide by the “Sino-British Joint Declaration” on “one country, two systems” and keeping Hong Kong unchanged for 50 years. Sustained progress and prosperity”.
Johnson said the UK would not “turn away” on Hong Kong, and he vowed to do everything in his power to make the Chinese government fulfill its promises made when Hong Kong’s sovereignty was handed over 25 years ago and ensure the democratic rights of the people of Hong Kong.
Twenty-five years ago, when the Chinese and British governments handed over the sovereignty of Hong Kong to the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party made a so-called commitment to maintain “one country, two systems” and “unchanged for 50 years”. In the Sino-British Joint Declaration issued by the Chinese and British governments and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, it is clearly stated that “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall not implement the socialist system and policies, and maintain the original capitalist system and way of life, and the fifty-fifty Years remain unchanged.”
The so-called “fifty years unchanged” policy for Hong Kong was first proposed by Deng Xiaoping, the de facto supreme ruler of the CCP at the time, in 1984. He promised “one country, two systems, a high degree of autonomy, Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong, and existing capitalism.” The way of life has not changed for fifty years.” This policy is expressly recorded in Article 3 and Annex 1 of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and the corresponding provisions in Article 5 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
According to public information, in October 1984, Deng Xiaoping, as the director of the Central Advisory Committee of the Communist Party of China, also promised when meeting with the “National Day Ceremony of Hong Kong and Macao Compatriots”: “Our generation will not change, and neither will the next generation. Fifty years later, when the mainland has developed, will they still handle these problems in a stingy way? So don’t worry about change, it won’t change.”
Now, Zhao Lijian ignores the above-mentioned historical facts and denies that the CCP government has any commitment to Hong Kong, which has surprised overseas Chinese.
In fact, less than 25 years after Hong Kong’s sovereignty was handed over to the Chinese government, Hong Kong’s political system has undergone radical changes.
Since the CCP began to enforce the so-called “National Security Law” in Hong Kong in 2020, it has not only eliminated pro-democracy lawmakers from Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, making this legislature dominated by the establishment, but also made major changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system. The amendment, under the slogan “patriots ruling Hong Kong”, excluded democrats and dissidents from elections, while scrapping plans for a direct election of the chief executive.
At the same time, the Hong Kong police arrested and sentenced a large number of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong; the Hong Kong government launched a comprehensive crackdown on the pro-democracy media in Hong Kong, forcing the “Apple Daily” and other independent media to suspend business and shut down various democratic organizations. They were also forced to announce their dissolution.
(Comprehensive report by reporter He Yating/responsible editor: Zhu Xinrui)
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