HK's healthy constitutional development beneficial to business, official

The progress of Hong Kong's constitutional reform in a healthy and orderly manner will be beneficial to the business environment in Hong Kong and also serve the interests of both China and the United States, said a Chinese official.

Yang Wenchang, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong, made the remarks Monday at a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

He said some Americans have doubts whether the central government is going to change its policy on Hong Kong. "I would like to tell them: 'One Country, Two Systems' is a piece of diamond we found in the mountains; it is not a piece of stone picked up at the road side. We treasure it, and we know much better than anybody else how to protect it, " he stressed.

Yang said only fools would change it or abandon it as they please. Only hostile people are not happy to see it a success.

He said Hong Kong is the most important financial and business center in the Far East, as well as the gateway to the Chinese mainland's huge market. The United States has tremendous economic interests in Hong Kong.

He said that according to statistics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, there are over 1,100 American companies in Hong Kong and more than 50,000 Americans working and living here. Hong Kong also plays a crucial part in China-US economic and trade relations, since a lot of Chinese products are exported to the United States via Hong Kong, and vice versa.

He called on foreign governments, especially foreign consulate generals and foreign business community in Hong Kong, to look at Hong Kong's situation fairly and objectively, and play a positive role for maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

The American Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest international business chambers in Hong Kong. Yang hoped that the chamber would continue to play a constructive role in China-US trade.

Yang also reiterated China's policies on Taiwan issue, Sino-US trade disputes and some other issues.

Source: Xinhua