[For Women of China]

The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) held a virtual meeting on July 5, 2022, during which ACWF's executive committee members and specially invited delegates from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) studied important remarks made by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the ACWF, addressed the meeting. Huang Xiaowei, Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group, and Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, presided over the meeting. Lu Xinning, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR, delivered a speech. Lin Yi, Member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the ACWF, and ACWF's executive committee members and specially invited delegates from HKSAR, attended.

Shen said General Secretary Xi had visited HKSAR at a historically crucial moment — after riots had been quelled and order restored in the region, yet at a time when residents of Hong Kong were still fighting the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus disease) epidemic. Xi's visit was significant, and Xi's important remarks were rich with connotations, inspiring and warm, as they reflected the general secretary's care, confidence and hope, Shen added.

In particular, Shen mentioned Xi's address at the meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the HKSAR, on July 1. Xi spoke of Hong Kong's great achievements during the previous 25 years, summarized the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and reaffirmed the firm will and confidence in fully and faithfully implementing the principle of "one country, two systems" in HKSAR. Xi stressed the successful practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong is an important part of the historic process of China's national rejuvenation.

Xi's address provided fundamental outlines and enhanced people's confidence and strong will in maintaining long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, and in making sure this cause will advance in the right direction in a sound and sustained manner, Shen said. She noted ACWF's executive committee members and specially invited delegates from HKSAR must fully understand and firmly implement Xi's remarks, fully and faithfully implement the "one country, two systems" principle, ensure Hong Kong is administered by patriots, and ensure women contribute to the writing of a new chapter in the practice of "one country, two systems" in HKSAR.

Shen communicated with the participants and listened to them as they shared their feelings about participating in the celebration's events, and especially, about their thoughts on Xi's important remarks. Shen urged the participants to study the series of important addresses and decisions General Secretary Xi and the CPC Central Committee have made about the "one country, two systems" principle, and about work related to HKSAR, since the 18th CPC National Congress was held in 2012.

The addresses and decisions provided impetus to Hong Kong as the region turned from disarray to good governance, and then entered a new phase of becoming more prosperous, Shen said. The addresses and decisions also laid the foundation for Hong Kong to gain new experiences and reach new development under the principle of "one country, two systems." Shen asked the participants from HKSAR to work with great efforts, and by doing so, to express their gratitude to General Secretary Xi, their love for the country and nation, and their firm belief in the "one country, two systems" principle and a more promising future for Hong Kong.

Shen gave a thumb up to ACWF's executive committee members and delegates from HKSAR for the love they have consistently shown to their motherland and their region, and also for the responsibilities they have shouldered. Shen praised them for their firm adherence to the "one country, two systems" principle, and for their contributions to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. Shen stressed the importance of studying and implementing the essence of Xi's addresses, fully and faithfully implementing the "one country, two systems" principle, and acting in accordance with the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong."

Shen encouraged the participants to unite and lead women in HKSAR to willingly respect and uphold the country's fundamental system, telling women that the more firmly the "one country" principle is upheld, the greater strength the "two systems" will be unleashed for the development of HKSAR. She also encouraged the participants to tell Hong Kong and Hong Kong women's stories to international community, showing how they have achieved progress during their motherland's development, and urged the participants to firmly safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and development interests.

Shen asked the participants to cherish Hong Kong's distinctive advantages, lead women from all segments of society to integrate themselves into the country's overall development, participate in the 14th Five-Year Plan and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and fully play the roles of women talents, especially the roles of young women, in the advancement of science, technology and innovation.

Shen called for enhanced communications with ordinary women, greater services provided to women, greater care for the elderly and young, better provision of assistance to young people for coping with difficulties, and timely response to meet people's needs and improve their livelihood. Shen also urged women to participate in social governance, build their shared home, safeguard the harmony and stability of society, and make contributions so Hong Kong can break new ground and achieve another leap forward.

Shen said women who love their country and their region need to play their unique roles and harness their strength. She said patriotic education provided to young people must be enhanced, by encouraging youth to sing the national anthem and watch the national-flag-raising ceremony, and by "sowing a seed" of love for their country and for their region deep in their hearts. She asked women in HKSAR to guide young people to be keenly aware of the trends in both China and the world, to help them cultivate a sense of national pride and enhance their awareness of their status as masters of the country, carry on the mainstream values, which are characterized by the love of both the motherland and Hong Kong as the core and are in conformity with the principle of "one country, two systems," and guide the youth to help build a strong and prosperous motherland and to help build Hong Kong into a better home.

Shen said the ACWF will work under the guidance of General Secretary Xi's important remarks, enhance communications and cooperation with the federation's executive committee members and delegates from the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, and build platforms and provide services so women from Hong Kong and Macao can integrate into the country's overall development, and so the women can participate in science, technology and innovation. The ACWF will also enhance education, guidance and services provided to children and young people in Hong Kong, strengthen their sense of national pride and awareness of their status as masters of the country, create more opportunities to help the children grow up to become talents, and support them as they lead wonderful lives. The ACWF will do more to ensure the cause of "one country, two systems" will advance in the right direction in a sound and sustained manner, Shen added.

Several of ACWF's executive committee members from HKSAR spoke during the meeting, including Yeung Chi-Hong, Ip Shun-Hing, Pauline Ngan Po-Ling, Pansy Ho Chiu-King, Ling Yu-Shih, Tan Chong-Chong, and Maggie Chan Man-Ki. They all agreed General Secretary Xi's address highlighted the importance he has attached to Hong Kong's development and the cordial care he has given to people in HKSAR. They said Xi's address stressed the fundamental interests of Hong Kong are in line with those of the country, and that "one country, two systems" has been tested repeatedly in practice and it serves the fundamental interests of not only Hong Kong and Macao, but also the whole country and the nation. Xi's address stressed that the principle of "one country, two systems" must be implemented as what it is originally intended precisely.

ACWF's executive committee members and delegates from HKSAR agreed that Xi's address showed the determination and confidence in adhering to the "one country, two systems" principle, and the address provided scientific guidance and firm guarantee for Hong Kong's development in the future and for the cause of "one country, two systems" to advance in the right direction in a sound and sustained manner.

ACWF's executive committee members and delegates from HKSAR vowed to study and implement Xi's important remarks, remain resolute in implementing the principle of "one country, two systems" and the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong," and play women's organizations' roles in uniting women who love their country and their region to continue supporting HKSAR's governance according to the law. They will continue harnessing women's strength in the construction of GBA, and continue integrating women's development into the country's overall development. They will enhance women's capacity building, improve communications with and services for disadvantaged women, and work hand in hand to build a harmonious, open and inclusive society. They will pay more attention to family education and the inheritance of family virtues, care more about children and young people, help the youth cultivate a correct sense of values, enhance their sense of national pride and awareness of their status as masters of the country, and help the youth contribute their strength to strive for a promising future for their motherland and for Hong Kong.

(Women of China English Monthly)