Posted in: Press Releases

January 31st, 2011

Miss Maria Tam, a member of the Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, today (Monday) discussed Hong Kong’s Basic Law and its constitutional reform at the “20 Years After the Promulgation of the Basic Law – The Road Ahead for Hong Kong” Symposium held at the University of Toronto’s Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library.

The symposium was jointly organized by the university’s Canada-Hong Kong Library, Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs, and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Canada. More than 100 people, including academics, politicians, community leaders and students attended the fully-packed symposium.

Miss Tam gave a presentation on “The Basic Law Code”, explaining the concept of “One Country, Two Systems”. She said the consensus on the constitutional reform achieved last year is a big step forward. “Hong Kong is moving forward with democracy. It’s a non-reversible trend.”

“Hong Kong’s value is in its capitalistic system and rule of law,” she said. “Economically, Hong Kong’s future is bright. It’ll emerge as the financial centre of the whole of China. Hong Kong is totally open. It has established itself as the dragonhead of economy in Southern China. With its strong enterprises, Hong Kong can survive international competition.”

“The People’s Congress and the Beijing Government will make a clear decision well before 2047 on whether the Basic Law will continue to be Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, or it will be modified or abolished,” she said, adding that China attaches great importance to Hong Kong. “China always wants to have a strong international business city like Hong Kong, which is also playing a leading role nationally and internationally in creativity and technological developments.”

Other speakers at the symposium included: Dr Ming K Chan of Stanford University on “Challenges and Opportunities in Transforming China’s Hong Kong Toward the 2047 Merger-Convergence”; Dr Kui-wai Li of City University of Hong Kong on “The Hong Kong Economy: The First Decade and the Road Ahead”; Dr Eric Fong of University of Toronto on “The Community of Hong Kong Immigrants in Toronto since Hong Kong has Reintegrated with China”; and Dr Eilo Yu of the University of Macau on “The Implication of Hong Kong’s ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Experience on Beijing’s Policy toward Taiwan and Macao”.

Miss Tam and the other speakers also officiated at the launching of the Canada-Hong Kong Library’s “Hong Kong Handover” Online Resource.

Chinese version on next page.

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