Top leader asks officials to guide youth in tradition of patriotism

The principle of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong has proved successful over the past 20 years, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday, calling for confidence in the arrangement.

Xi made the remark during a meeting with senior officials from the special administrative region's administrative, legislative and judicial authorities.

Although Hong Kong was hit hard by the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the international financial crisis in 2008, it has maintained stability, Xi said, adding that relations are robust.

"Facts prove that 'one country, two systems' is absolutely right," Xi said.

The peaceful return of Hong Kong to China 20 years ago has changed the stereotype of getting into fights to reclaim lost lands, Xi said, because the transition was peaceful. That's rare in world history, he added.

The president spoke highly of efforts made by the managing team of Hong Kong SAR, saying that it properly handled a series of important political and legal issues, fought separatist influences and maintained social stability.

With the diligent work of the managing team, Hong Kong has made lots of progress in such areas as housing, poverty alleviation, elder care and technological innovation in the past five years, Xi said.

Noting that some of the officials will no longer have public duties because of an upcoming personnel shuffle, Xi encouraged them to work for the development of Hong Kong no matter what jobs they end up doing. Reassignments will be made on Saturday, when the fifth administration since the region's return will be sworn in.

The president called on the managing team to continue supporting the new chief executive and government in administering the laws, promoting exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland and guiding the younger generation to adhere to patriotic tradition.

Continuous efforts should be made to build a better Hong Kong and fulfill the Chinese dream of a great rejuvenation of the nation, he said.

In a meeting with Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on Thursday, Xi affirmed the positive contributions made by Leung and the SAR government over the past five years to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to maintain social stability.

Leung said that Hong Kong's economic and social progress has been achieved with the support of the president and the central government.

Hong Kong could see complementary development with the mainland in the next years, he said, adding that the SAR could use its advantages to join the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), the building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city cluster and the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn