HKSAR chief executive should safeguard "one country, two systems": People's Daily

The People's Daily, flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC), will run a commentary Wednesday urging incoming chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to firmly implement the "one country, two systems" principle.

On Tuesday, Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was granted the official certificate of appointment as the fifth-term HKSAR chief executive in Beijing.

The appointment came with great responsibilities, says the article.

It notes that Hong Kong is in the middle of a key development stage where both challenges and opportunities exist. "The newly appointed HKSAR chief executive should have wisdom and courage, and should be broad-minded and responsible."

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland 20 years ago, the practice of the "one country, two systems" principle has been a widely-acknowledged success, the commentary says, adding that the region continues to enjoy prosperity and stability and has achieved progress in various undertakings.

The chief executive of the HKSAR must firmly implement the "one country, two systems" principle, uphold the Constitution and the Basic Law, and be committed to the rule of law, the article says.

The chief executive should properly adhere to the "one country, two systems" principle and respect the differences between the two systems, between upholding the central government' power and maintaining a high degree of autonomy, and between national interests and the region's stability, it says.

The chief executive should take the lead in addressing problems related to economy and people's livelihood, resolving social conflicts and taking advantage of national strategies to develop the region, notes the commentary.

Over the past two decades, Hong Kong has been supported by the inland areas, as the fates of the two sides are intertwined, the article says, calling on the HKSAR to contribute to the great revival of the Chinese nation. Endi