The US Heritage Foundation yesterday released a report, which ranks Hong Kong the world's freest economy for the 23rd consecutive year. This is also the 20th time for Hong Kong to be praised as the "freest economy" since the territory's return to the Motherland. Surely Hong Kong wining such highest praise is a result of all Hong Kong people's joint efforts, but in the final analysis the most core factor is the successful practice of "one country two systems".
Rating agencies of foreign think tanks often are politically biased, as they serve mainly the political and economic interests of their own countries or their own institutions. If it stood to reason that the pre-handover Hong Kong as a British colony would be given "high scores", then the fact, that such an old-brand American think tank still remains consistent to highly commend the post-handover Hong Kong which has been through thick and thin, shows the "freest" achievement made by Hong Kong stands the test of time, an objective fact even political biases cannot obliterate.
The "economic freedom" ranking covers not only "business freedom" as popularly understood, but also a series of highest-standard coefficients measuring political, economic and social development that show a region's overall development level. A certain magazine's cover story prior to the handover, The Death of Hong Kong, has long become a public laughingstock. But at that time, people could hardly believe that Hong Kong could ever continue to maintain good development. It is still remembered that a known personage once recalled that right before the handover parents had told their children not to attend a medical school because the career was not promising as what the Mainland had were all "bare-foot doctors"; parents also had told their children not to attend a law school because the profession was useless as the Mainland was lawless. Moreover, the Hong Kong dollar banknotes issued by the Bank of China were deliberately belittled with some claiming that they might not be convertible one the Mainland economy collapsed.
However, facts in past two decades not only veto such misunderstanding and biases at the outset, but once again convince with excellent records those who did not believed in Hong Kong's future. Among the 12 factors in the Index of Economic Freedom, Hong Kong scores 90 or higher in eight and leads the world in Fiscal Health, Trade Freedom and Monetary Freedom. At the same time, the Foundation praises Hong Kong's high-quality judicial system, intolerance of corruption, effective supervision system and market openness.
There is also such a paragraph in the report: "The [Hong Kong's] high-quality legal framework…provides effective protection of property rights and strong support for the rule of law…. Regulatory efficiency and openness to global commerce strongly support entrepreneurial activity. Interaction with China has become more intense through strengthened financial and other noneconomic linkages, and Hong Kong is by far the most significant transit point for exports and imports to and from China."
As shown by facts, in today's turbulent world, it is exactly with the successful practice of "one country two systems" that Hong Kong is able to make its achievement in development. In past 20 years, not only have freedom and the rule of law been consolidated, but democratic development also been promoted and new competitive advantages been upgraded. Ignoring such facts, the opposition keeps smearing and even going abroad to badmouth "one country two systems". In this way, they really go against world opinion.
The "freest economy" ranking no doubt is a slap in the face of those who question "one country two systems", but also serves as a fine and friendly reminder for all Hong Kong citizens.
The on-going Chief Executive election is a crucial battle to ensure the continuous practice of "one country two systems" in Hong Kong, which concerns Hong Kong people's future and fate. The Chief Executive must meet the four major requirements of loving the country and Hong Kong, being trusted by the Central Government, having the ability to govern and Hong Kong people's support. Only in this way can the successful practice of "one country two systems" be ensured. Otherwise, citizens' well-being can hardly be protected.
17 February 2017
