Bilingual Editorial: Presenting a narrative of Hong Kong
雙語社評:主動說好香港故事 維護單獨關稅地位
文章日期:2019年1月18日

雙語社評齊齊聽

[英語 (足本收聽)] Presented by Ms CHENG, Joyce Yu-ting, Lecturer of Hong Kong Community College, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

[普通話 (足本收聽)] Presented by Dr MAO, Michelle Sheng, Lecturer of Hong Kong Community College, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Receiving Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who was in Beijing briefing state leaders on her work, President Xi Jinping recognised the "good results" achieved by the SAR government in governing Hong Kong. Meanwhile Premier Li Keqiang took the initiative to mention that Hong Kong is a free port and a separate customs territory when talking about Hong Kong's economic situation, which brought to mind a recent US report recommending a review of Hong Kong's status as a separate customs territory. Hong Kong has become embroiled in the struggles between China and the US. With such dramatic changes in the external circumstances, it is obvious that the central government is paying close attention to how the developments will affect Hong Kong. Given the treacherous unpredictability of international politics, there is nothing the SAR government can do if foreign countries blow Hong Kong affairs out of proportion. However, the government can still, within the demarcations and framework laid down by "One country, two systems", take the initiative to present a narrative of Hong Kong to the international community and set the record straight.

[ENG audio 1]

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Reform and Opening Up. Both Xi and Li expressed the hope that Hong Kong can seize the opportunity offered by a new stage of the country's Reform and Opening Up, realise the new development, and make new contributions. When Carrie Lam briefed Xi on her work last year, Xi mentioned that the key to the implementation of "One country, two systems" is the SAR government's strict adherence to the Chinese constitution and the Basic Law. By saying so, Xi combined "organically" the central government's full jurisdiction over Hong Kong and Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy. In contrast, this year Xi and Li did not mention the issue of national security again. From the very beginning Xi recognised the SAR government's "unwavering espousal of the principles of 'One country, two systems' and the Basic Law". This shows that the central government believes that the Hong Kong independence movement has been kept in check and Hong Kong's political situation has become relatively stable, which allows room for looking forward to the future on the strength of the past instead of looking at shortcomings.

[ENG audio 2]

The central government regards Carrie Lam's work fairly highly. It commended Lam's leadership style as well as the governance of the SAR government, such as its "painstaking planning for Hong Kong's long-term development" and "active participation in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area". It is noteworthy that Li mentioned that "amid the complex global situation, Hong Kong, as a free port and separate customs territory, has maintained steady economic growth, which has not been easy."

[ENG audio 3]

Article 116 of the Basic Law states that the HKSAR shall be a separate customs territory. The United States-Hong Kong Policy Act adopted by the US in the 1990s also confirms such a status. However, as the struggles between China and the US escalate, Hong Kong's status as a separate customs territory has suddenly been targeted by the US.

[ENG audio 4]

For a long time Hong Kong was in the comfort of some tranquil external political circumstances. It deserves attention whether the SAR government is psychologically prepared and has the people familiar with foreign affairs amid rapidly deteriorating international situations. One of the four hopes expressed by Xi was that Hong Kong "can do a good job of presenting the narrative of Hong Kong successfully implementing 'One country, two systems'." Given the SAR government's lack of experience in this regard, it will be a great challenge for it to accomplish the task.

[ENG audio 5]

主動說好香港故事 維護單獨關稅地位

行政長官林鄭月娥赴京述職,國家主席習近平肯定特區政府施政「取得良好成績」,國務院總理李克強談及香港經濟狀况,主動提及香港是自由港和單獨關稅區,令人聯想起早前美國有報告建議檢討是否視香港為獨立關稅區。香港捲入中美角力,外部環境劇變,中央顯然亦在密切留意事態發展對香港的影響。國際政治風雲詭譎,外國要拿香港做文章,特區政府無法控制,不過當局仍可在一國兩制劃定的分際和框架之下,更加主動向國際社會講好香港故事,以正視聽。

[PTH audio 1]

今年是改革開放40周年,習李發言均表示,希望香港能夠把握國家改革開放進入新階段的機遇,實現新發展,作出新貢獻。去年林鄭述職,習近平提到落實一國兩制,關鍵在於特區政府嚴格按照憲法和《基本法》辦事,將中央全面管治權和香港高度自治權有機結合。相比之下,今年習李公開發言,未有提及國家安全議題,習近平一開始即肯定特區政府「堅定維護一國兩制方針和《基本法》」,反映中央認為港獨受到遏制,香港政治形勢相對穩定,可以多談繼往開來而非查找不足。

[PTH audio 2]

今次林鄭述職,中央評價相當高,當中既有對林鄭個人行事作風的稱許,亦有對特區政府施政的肯定,例如「認真謀劃香港長遠發展」、「積極參與粵港澳大灣區建設」等等。值得留意的是,李克強特別提到,「在錯綜複雜的國際形勢下,香港作為自由港和單獨關稅區,經濟保持平穩增長,來之不易」。

[PTH audio 3]

《基本法》第116條明言,香港特別行政區為單獨關稅地區,1990年代美國通過的《香港政策法》亦確認香港這一地位,不過隨着中美鬥爭愈演愈烈,單獨關稅區地位突然成為美方炒作對象。

[PTH audio 4]

過去香港長期享有平靜的外部政治環境,處境安逸,現在特區政府是否有足夠心理準備和對外事務人才,應付急轉直下的國際形勢,情况令人關注。習近平對香港提出4點希望,其中之一是「講好一國兩制成功實踐的香港故事」,特區政府這方面經驗相對缺乏,能否妥善做到,將是一大考驗。

[PTH audio 5]

明報社評 2018.12.18