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Text of Premier Li's press conference

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2015-03-15 14:07:30

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Q: I'm with the Hong Kong Economic Times. My question is about the Constitutional reform in Hong Kong, which is a key interest to the people of all in Hong Kong. We are getting closer to the date for voting on the plan of the Constitutional reform in Hong Kong, but recently, there have been some quite tough statements made by the central leadership on this particular topic, and many people are not so optimistic about the prospects for the Constitutional reform to be adopted.

I want to know if, and also for the first time in the government Work Report you said that we need to strictly comply with the Constitution and basic law at the same time. Does this mean that the central government is tightening its policies to Hong Kong and will that affect the relationship between the central government and the Hong Kong SAR, and will that add new uncertainties to the cultural and business interactions between the two sides?

A: It is a basic State policy of China's government to hear the principle of One country, two systems: the people in Hong Kong governing Hong Kong, and people in Macao governing Macao, and the regions enjoying the high degree of autonomy. Some people are worried the central government is tightening its policies to Hong Kong, and I believe such a worry is not necessary.

It's true that in this year's the government work report, it is said that we need to strictly comply with the Constitution and basic law. This itself shows our commitment to ensuring the insistence and implementation of one country, two systems principle. The principle has been reaching into Constitution and the basic law of Hong Kong SAR. They form the constitutional basis of Hong Kong SAR, and it is also stipulated in the basic law of Hong Kong what system should be practiced in Hong Kong.

The one country, two systems principle reflects the will of the country and the people, and cannot be changed as well. You may feel that I am being very careful in choosing my words as answering your question, this is because you asked a question that relates to the law, so I need to answer it seriously.

The central government will continue to firmly support the government of Hong Kong SAR and the chief executive of Hong Kong SAR in governing the region with the law, and the central government will give stronger support to Hong Kong for it to play its unique role in China's reform: Opening-up and Modernization Drive.

We hope that we have a closer exhanges between Hong Kong and the mainland, and both sides get to benefit from such closer exchanges in the business, cultural and other fields. And all people involved in such exchanges will feel satisfied and have their well-being boosts. Thank you.