Hu: HK enjoys broad range of democratic rights, freedoms

HONG KONG - President Hu Jintao said Sunday morning that Hong Kong residents now enjoy the range of democratic rights and freedoms that they had never done before.

"Never before have Hong Kong residents enjoyed the range of democratic rights and freedoms as they do now," said Hu in a speech at the inaugural ceremony of the fourth-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the swearing-in of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Over the past 15 years, the principles of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy have been fully implemented, said Hu, adding that the compatriots in Hong Kong are now masters of their own fate and manage, on their own affairs that fall within the autonomy of the SAR.

Since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the political system and democracy have developed in an incremental and orderly manner, and achieved much progress.

"We should continue to advance the democratic process in Hong Kong as provided for in the Basic Law and the relevant decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress," he said.

Rule of law is a core value of Hong Kong, and the Basic Law has the supreme status in the legal system of the Hong Kong SAR and is the legal basis for administering Hong Kong pursuant to law, he noted.