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Solution to HK turmoil ‘should be on basis of its Basic Law’

HONG KONG — Any solution to the ongoing political turmoil in Hong Kong has to be on the basis of its Basic Law — which serves as its constitutional document — and in accordance with the One Country, Two Systems principle, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Mr Lee taking a walk down Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong on Wednesday night. Mr Lee pointed out that the One Country, Two Systems principle is unprecedented and the only such arrangement in the world, but the two parties — China and Hong Kong — have to make it work. PHOTO: MCI

Mr Lee taking a walk down Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong on Wednesday night. Mr Lee pointed out that the One Country, Two Systems principle is unprecedented and the only such arrangement in the world, but the two parties — China and Hong Kong — have to make it work. PHOTO: MCI

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HONG KONG — Any solution to the ongoing political turmoil in Hong Kong has to be on the basis of its Basic Law — which serves as its constitutional document — and in accordance with the One Country, Two Systems principle, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Hong Kong — which has enjoyed substantial political autonomy since returning from British to Chinese rule in 1997 — has been embroiled in tensions with China after the latter ruled out fully-democratic polls for Hong Kong’s Chief Executive elections in 2017.

China had said it would allow a citywide vote for the first time, but candidates would first have to be approved by a largely pro-Beijing nominating committee. This angered pro-democracy activists, thousands of whom took to the streets to protest.

A pro-democracy Occupy Central mass sit-in is also expected to take place in the coming weeks, although organisers have not revealed the exact time and place.

Speaking in an interview with the Singapore media in Hong Kong — the last stop of his week-long visit to China — Mr Lee pointed out that the One Country, Two Systems principle is unprecedented and the only such arrangement in the world, but the two parties have to make it work.

“It’s not easy to do, there are bound to be issues that will come up from time to time. And I think they have to be worked out by the Hong Kong people and with … the central government in Beijing,” he said.

He added: “Both sides have a very big vested interest in making it work, and I wish them all the best in working it out.

“But it has to be on the basis of One Country, Two Systems, what the Basic Law says and what is in the interest of Hong Kong as well as of China. There’s really no other way forward to it.

“If we understand that then we will know what are the possible ways forward and which ways don’t really lead to any practical sensible outcomes.”

Mr Lee also noted that Hong Kong has changed over the years. “It’s developed even closer ties with China, it’s contemplating its next steps forward,” he said. “They are planning for the next 30 years, and we have to be part of this and our attitude must be that it’s good that the region is prospering, so long as we are also moving with it.”

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