The policy of "One Country, Two Systems" is not an expediency, but a long-term national strategy benefiting Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland as well as the international community, said an official of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government in Geneva on Friday.
Speaking at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, Chan Shui Fu, under-secretary for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau of the HKSAR government, said "One Country, Two Systems" has been successfully implemented in Hong Kong since 1997, and both the central government and the HKSAR government are committed to making it a continued success.
"Rule of law and judicial independence are the cornerstones of our common law system, well-recognized internationally. Constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights are respected and upheld according to law by the courts," he said.
He added that since last June, many protests have ended in serious violence.
The Hong Kong police is duty-bound to take appropriate actions to restore law and order, he said, adding complaints of alleged abuse will be handled professionally and impartially.
"The social unrest was triggered by a legislative proposal. The bill has been withdrawn, but violent protests have persisted. We will examine what the underlying reasons are and what can be done, while engaging the community in dialogues to bring Hong Kong forward," he said.
Saying that "One Country, Two Systems" is an innovation, the official told the Council that it has been a success overall, yet new issues are bound to arise in its implementation.
"We will find ways to resolve them, including promoting better understanding of Hong Kong's unique constitutional order," he said.
