China's Leader Lauds Policy in Macau in Nod to Hong Kong, Taiwan

By Edward Cody
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, December 21, 2004; Page A18

BEIJING, Dec. 20 -- President Hu Jintao declared Monday that Macau's booming economy and trouble-free politics prove the wisdom of China's "one country, two systems" arrangement and suggested the policy should "live on" as the government deals with Hong Kong and Taiwan in the future.

Hu's comments, made in Macau on the fifth anniversary of its return to Chinese control, appeared aimed at disgruntled democracy advocates in Hong Kong who have complained about restrictions imposed by the Beijing government.

While Hu did not mention Taiwan, his endorsement of "one country, two systems" as a policy for the future suggested he still sees it as a possible solution for the self-governing island, which China has vowed to reincorporate into the mainland despite its independence-minded leadership.

"Time has proven that Deng Xiaoping's 'one country, two systems' formula is perfectly accurate and it will continue to exhibit an immense power to live on," Hu said, according to the official New China News Agency.

Deng, the late Chinese leader, devised the policy to facilitate Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 after 150 years as a British colony. It meant that Beijing, while retaining its own Communist system, was willing to allow a separate system of free-market economics and broad political autonomy in Hong Kong.

A similar arrangement was put into place when China regained control of Macau from Portugal two years later. In practice, however, the policy has functioned differently in the two territories, which share a similar history but have little else in common.

Hong Kong's democracy activists, citing the autonomy pledge, have pushed hard for democratic elections, creating a political problem for the government in Beijing. After a period of agitation, Hu's government declared last April that, for now, it would not allow Hong Kong's legislature and chief executive to be elected by a direct vote.

Hu indirectly criticized Hong Kong's administrators on Monday for not dealing adequately with the problem. At a meeting attended by Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa after the speech, the president called on Tung and his subordinates to learn from their mistakes.

In contrast, Macau's 450,000 people have embraced limited self-rule without making further demands. They have been encouraged by meteoric economic progress, brought about largely on the strength of millions of mainland Chinese who travel to the tiny enclave to gamble under loosened border controls.

Citing Macau's prosperity and smooth government under Chief Executive Edmund Ho, Hu said the established law in Hong Kong should be strictly followed and political power should remain in the hands of "patriots," Hong Kong citizens who embrace the return to China.

"These are the very important conclusions that we draw from what has happened since the return of Hong Kong and Macau," news agencies quoted Hu as saying. "The long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau will be guaranteed if we can follow these points, and the 'one country, two systems' arrangement will enjoy a bigger success."

After Hong Kong reverted to Chinese control, Beijing officials cited "one country, two systems" as a model for Taiwan. But that suggestion has largely dropped from official discourse since the conflict over democracy emerged in Hong Kong and the government blocked direct elections. In that light, Hu's strong endorsement drew particular attention.

Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, and his supporters have made it increasingly clear, however, that they have in mind full independence from China. Officials in Chen's government have cited the European Union or the British Commonwealth, groupings of sovereign states, as examples of how they might reunite.

© 2004 The Washington Post Company