Symposium marks 30th anniversary of HKSAR Basic Law's promulgation

A symposium on upholding and improving the "one country, two systems" was held Monday in south China's Shenzhen to mark the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Basic Law.

Organized by the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, the symposium was attended by about 200 people from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and overseas, including officials from China's central authorities.

The National People's Congress (NPC) decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security and the ensuing legislation by the NPC Standing Committee are the best ways to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the HKSAR Basic Law, said Deng Zhonghua, deputy head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.

Once enacted, the new law, with unchallengeable status and authority, will be a key component of the laws of the HKSAR and any local law of the HKSAR must not contradict it, he noted.

Chen Dong, deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said that an increasing number of Hong Kong residents have come to understand that establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security will help consolidate the "one country, two systems" and end the chaos in the HKSAR.

In accordance with the Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, the NPC, the highest state organ of power, made the decision, which has solid legal grounds and its validity is beyond question, said Zhang Yong, deputy director of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the NPC Standing Committee.

The NPC decision is an important institutional arrangement in upholding and improving the "one country, two systems" and another practice of governing the country in accordance with the Constitution, said Zhang.

Those from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas participated in the symposium via video link due to the COVID-19 pandemic.