Deng Xiaoping came up with the concept of “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” when China took Hong Kong back from Great Britain in 1997. The term refers to the fact that Hong Kong’s executive and legislative branches are composed of Hong Kong residents rather than officials from Mainland China. The central government (Beijing) would not directly interfere in Hong Kong’s daily affairs.
On November 24, Zhang Yong, Deputy Director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, offered a reinterpretation during a National Constitution Day lecture. Zhang stated: “It does not mean that Hong Kong, with its territory of over 1,000 square kilometers, can only be governed by Hong Kong people themselves. That is not the case – it is partially true but not entirely. Of course, the central government must also govern Hong Kong. Without the central government’s involvement, where would the Basic Law come from? Deng Xiaoping also said that not everyone is qualified to govern Hong Kong – it must be patriots who govern Hong Kong.”
Zhang further explained that the National People’s Congress, as the highest authority in the country, is responsible for determining the establishment and systems of Hong Kong. It has the authority to exercise any rights it deems necessary, or “open-ended rights.”
Political commentators note that Macau’s new executive election (appointment by Beijing) has switched to “Beijing officials governing Macau,” suggesting that in the future, “Beijing officials governing Hong Kong” might come, too.
At the same event, Wang Yushan, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee, stated that the past claim that the Hong Kong Basic Law, but not China’s Constitution, governs Hong Kong is incorrect. He emphasized that the Basic Law’s legal authority is established by China’s Constitution. Political commentators view this as Beijing’s effort to override the Basic Law by China’s Constitution. China’s Constitution states that it adheres to the socialist path.
Source: Radio Free Asia, November 24, 2024
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/hk-autonomy-control-11242024103514.html