BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The central government's overall jurisdiction over the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and a high degree of autonomy in the two regions, both incorporated in a report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), do not contradict each other, according to a Chinese official.
Worries that the overall jurisdiction would impact the high degree of autonomy in the two regions are unnecessary, Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said in an interview with Xinhua Friday.
Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Chinese government has been exercising its overall jurisdiction, and the high degree of autonomy of the region comes with the authorization of the central leadership, Zhang said, noting that the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong has been fully respected and practiced ever since.
According to Zhang, the stress on the central government's overall jurisdiction in Hong Kong was to highlight the legal status and source of power of the region, as well as the power of the central government, which includes the power to appoint the region's chief executive and principal officials, to interpret and revise the Basic Law of the region, to oversee the region's legislation and to make decision on the region's political system development.
It was meant to target the wrongful comments and acts of a handful people who attempt to reject the central government's jurisdiction or defy the principle of "one country" on the pretext of autonomy, he said.
According to the CPC report, delivered by Xi Jinping at the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress last week, the policy of "one country, two systems" has proved to be the best institutional guarantee for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao after their return.
The governments and chief executives of both regions will be supported to advance democracy with well-ordered steps, maintain law and order, and fulfill the constitutional responsibility of safeguarding China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, the report stressed.
The report also said that patriots should play "the principal role" as Hong Kong people govern Hong Kong and Macao people govern Macao.
The report indicated that the implementation of principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and "Macao people governing Macao" with a high degree of autonomy will not be changed, Zhang said, calling for greater patriotism and a stronger sense of national identity among the people in Hong Kong and Macao.
"Compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao are expected to share not only the pride of a prosperous China but also their responsibilities as a citizen of the country and a member of the nation," he said.
