Beijing's top office for Hong Kong affairs is pushing back against the idea that the city's security work is finished. The website of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) reposted a commentary published in Ta Kung Pao on Thursday (20 August) under the byline "Gong Zhiping." The piece is titled "Hong Kong's Progression from Chaos to Order and from Order to Prosperity Is a Coherent and Unified Process," part of the series "Safeguarding Hong Kong's High-Quality Development with High-Level Security."
HKMAO reposted Ta Kung Pao's "Gong Zhiping" commentary on Thursday.
The commentary speaks highly of the SAR Government's work. It stresses that development and security are like "the two wings of a bird or the two wheels of a cart." The two must complement and reinforce each other. There is no place for the one-sided claim that "security work is done and we can focus single-mindedly on development."
The Ta Kung Pao article opens with a pointed question. It quotes a number of Hong Kong people of insight who recently raised a serious issue in exchanges on various occasions. As Hong Kong now moves from chaos to order and from order to prosperity, some say the city's work to safeguard national security is more or less done. The next step, they say, is to devote itself single-mindedly to the economy and development.
Such remarks tear "from chaos to order" and "from order to prosperity" apart and set security against development. Are they not one-sided, or even harmful? Or do they carry some other purpose? Citing the questions raised by these people of insight, the author argues that they must be clearly and thoroughly addressed.
"From chaos to order to prosperity" is one continuous whole.
Two Wings of a Bird, Two Wheels of a Cart
The Ta Kung Pao article points out that Hong Kong's progression "from chaos to order" toward "from order to prosperity" is a historical whole carried forward in one continuous vein. The main theme running through it from beginning to end is "coordinating development and security, taking security as the prerequisite for development and development as the guarantee for security."
The article stresses that development and security are "like the two wings of a bird or the two wheels of a cart, complementing and reinforcing each other." As circumstances change, "one wing or one wheel may become more prominent and bear more weight at a given moment. But that by no means implies that the other wing or wheel stops moving or turning. Were that the case, the bird could not fly and the cart could not move. As for when which wing or wheel should be more prominent and bear more weight, that depends on the actual circumstances."
In other words, "from chaos to order" is not solely about security, and "from order to prosperity" is not solely about development. Security and development, "righting wrongs" and "invigorating governance," are interwoven and fused throughout Hong Kong's entire journey from chaos to order, and onward from order to prosperity.
The Ta Kung Pao article makes a blunt case: "building a secure environment is creating the conditions for development." During the 2019 extradition bill turmoil, Hong Kong faced its gravest situation since the handover. "Hong Kong independence" ran rampant, black-clad violence raged, and "mutual destruction" (laam chau) tactics swept the city.
Hong Kong was battered beyond recognition and left in ruins. "One Country, Two Systems" was nearly destroyed in one fell swoop. "Without security, how could there be any talk of development?"
Order Restored, Development Never Shelved
Fortunately, at that critical moment, the Central Authorities enacted the Hong Kong National Security Law and improved the SAR's electoral system. These moves effectively defused the major and imminent threats to national security and reversed Hong Kong's chaos in one stroke. The SAR subsequently completed its Article 23 legislation under the Basic Law, building a solid barrier for safeguarding national security. Hong Kong bid farewell to turmoil and unrest, restored order and vitality, and its business environment has continued to improve.
The article also notes that while stepping up security work, the SAR Government has "never for a moment shelved the development agenda." With the support of the Central Authorities and the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong emerged smoothly from the pandemic. GDP has grown for 14 consecutive quarters.
The city's status as an international financial, shipping and trade center has been consolidated and enhanced. The building of an international innovation and technology hub has accelerated. The drive to "grab talent and grab enterprises" has yielded remarkable results. Livelihoods, labor, welfare, health and education have all continued to improve.
All this shows that "grasping security and grasping development are not two processes alternating one after the other, but two aspects of the same process."
The Message: Stay the Course
The Ta Kung Pao article concludes on a warning note. As changes unseen in a century unfold at an accelerating pace, the world is entering a new period of turbulence and transformation. Hong Kong's accelerated development places higher demands on security. The city must "grasp both safeguarding security and promoting development, and grasp both firmly." Only by consolidating the gains of "righting wrongs" and strengthening the momentum of "invigorating governance" in tandem can Hong Kong ensure long-term prosperity and stability, and ensure that "One Country, Two Systems" advances steadily and goes far.
An insider said this Ta Kung Pao article is highly significant. It forcefully rebuts the "security is done, focus single-mindedly on development" rhetoric. It directly brands as one-sided, and even "harmful," the view that Hong Kong's national security work is "more or less done" and should give way to "single-minded focus on the economy."
The article also quotes Hong Kong people of insight who question whether such arguments "carry some other purpose." The issue is clearly not that simple.
The article rebuts the "security is enough" theory on three levels. The HKMAO's reposting of the article is clearly targeted. The aim is to refute the fallacy of setting "security" against "development."
High praise for advancing security and development in parallel.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that the article gives high affirmation to the SAR Government's work and to Hong Kong's economic development achievements. In particular, it affirms that the current-term government has advanced "security" and "development" in parallel. This creates a favorable public opinion environment for the continuity of its governance. The core message it conveys is that "the current course is correct and must be upheld."
The insider believes the HKMAO's republication of the article shows that its views accurately reflect the attitude of the Central Authorities. This merits close attention.
Ariel
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