Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 02, 2002
Election of HK NPC Deputies of Profound Significance
The election of deputies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) of China is of profound significance, Secretary-General of the NPC Standing Committee He Chunlin said Friday in Hong Kong.
The election of deputies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) of China is of profound significance, Secretary-General of the NPC Standing Committee He Chunlin said Friday in Hong Kong.
He made the remarks while chairing the first meeting of the Conference for Electing of the Deputies of the HKSAR to the 10th NPC.
"Five years after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the principles of 'one country, two systems,' Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy as well as the Basic Law have been fully implemented," He said.
Despite the outbreak of the Asian financial crisis shortly after the 1997 handover, "the HKSAR government, with the support of the Chinese central government, has successfully united all walks of life in the HKSAR in overcoming various difficulties and resolving a series of social and economic issues, thereby maintaining Hong Kong's stability and prosperity."
Speaking of the country as a whole, He pointed out that China is enjoying political stability, economic growth, ethnic unity andsocial development.
Against this backdrop, the election of the HKSAR deputies to the 10th NPC is of a specially profound significance, He Chunlin emphasized.
In December 1997, He recalled, 36 Hong Kong deputies were chosen to represent Hong Kong at the Ninth NPC, whose term will expire in March next year.
According to He, the first session of the Conference for Electing of the Deputies of the HKSAR to the 10th NPC signified the official beginning of the election of the 10th NPC deputies, which is of great importance and far-reaching impact.
He Chunlin believed that members of the electoral conference will live up to the expectations of the public and carry their entrusted task of electing Hong Kong deputies to the 10th NPC to asuccessful ending.