A symposium to mark the 14th anniversary of the promulgation of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was held in Hong Kong Monday.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa was the keynote speaker at the symposium. He said that the HKSAR government will fully support discussions on constitutional development issues within the framework of the Basic Law.

Tung pointed out that the central government has been paying close attention to the constitutional development of the HKSAR, and has made comments on some principal issues through various channels.

He noted that "One Country" is the premise on which "Two Systems" is implemented. The Constitution is the supreme code representing and safeguarding the national sovereignty.

Tung said the relationship between "One Country" and "Two Systems" is clear. Quoting Deng Xiaoping, he stated that without "One Country", there would be no "Two Systems".

The concept of "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" means that patriots must form the main body that governs Hong Kong. Patriots are those who respect their Chinese nationality, sincerely support "One Country, Two Systems" and do no harm to the country or the HKSAR, he said.

Tung added that "a high degree of autonomy" refers to autonomy entrusted by the central government. It indicates that Hong Kong is a special administrative region directly under the central government, whose authority comes from the central government.

Tung said the chief executive should be responsible to both the central government and Hong Kong as a whole. He is also responsible for the enforcement of the Basic Law.

He said Hong Kong's constitutional development should not violate the "executive-led" principle, which is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's success and an important component of the design of the Basic Law.

Tung said "balanced participation" indicates that Hong Kong's political structure must have due regard for the interests of all sectors of society and offer all people equal opportunity to participate.

He said the HKSAR's constitutional development should be enhanced step by step while continuously summing up experience.

Tung believes that Hong Kong's social stability and economic prosperity can only be achieved with steady and sound constitutional development.

He said "One Country, Two Systems" is an unprecedented and ingenious concept that has been put into practice for the first time in the HKSAR. "We have no previous experience of the Basic Law, and therefore our understanding of its contents and of the ways to best implement it is not adequate."

Discussions on constitutional development, which is of great importance to the future of Hong Kong, will inevitably hinge on the provisions of the Basic Law and issues related to the principle, he said.

Tung noted that since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the people's sense of national identity and national consciousness has been greatly enhanced.

He said he expected all sectors of the community to study the Basic Law again to gain new insights and understanding through rational discussions. Then Hong Kong can follow the path of "One Country, Two Systems" and observe the Basic Law in promoting constitutional development.

The symposium was jointly held by the Hong Kong One Country, Two Systems Research Institute, the Joint Conference for Popularization of the Basic Law of the HKSAR and the Basic Law Institute.

Professors and experts who participated in drafting the Basic Law, including Professor Xiao Weiyun of Peking University, Shao Tianren, a counselor with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Professor Xu Chongde of Renmin University of China, recalled the process of drafting the Basic Law.

They all concurred that it is very important to understand the Basic Law in words and in essence.

Andrew Liao Cheung-sing, member of the Executive Council of the HKSAR, Stephen Lam Sui-lung, Hong Kong's secretary for constitutional affairs, and others also gave talks at the symposium. About 360 people attended.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2004)