The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR today (December 4) jointly held a seminar on Constitution Day, with the Endeavour Education Centre as the supporting organisation. The Seminar aims to enhance public understanding of the constitutional basis of the country and HKSAR. Before the seminar began, all participants stood and observed one minute of silence in memory of the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

     The theme of the Seminar was "The Constitution and the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation". The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Mr Liu Guangyuan delivered speeches respectively. This was followed by a keynote address from Professor Han Dayuan who is member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and professor of the Renmin Law School, Renmin University of China. The panel discussion session was moderated by member of the Management Committee of the Endeavour Education Centre, Mrs Rita Fan, who hosted a discussion with consultant of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies Professor Lau Siu-kai, and member of the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Mr David Lie. About 900 participants from various sectors of the community attended the Seminar.

     Speaking at the Seminar, Mr Lee, first expressed deep condolences to the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and offered sincere sympathies to their families and the affected residents. He said that the HKSAR Government is devoting all-out efforts to disaster relief and follow-up support, and will establish an independent committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the incident, in order to prevent similar tragedies from reoccurring and meet public expectations. He said that the painful lessons from this incident will be transformed into concrete measures to strengthen urban safety and drive institutional reform.

     Mr Lee said the Constitution provides the strongest rule-of-law safeguards and institutional foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and it is also the constitutional basis for establishing HKSAR. On the journey of national rejuvenation, Hong Kong is both a participant and a beneficiary. In the 28 years since its return to the motherland, Hong Kong have fully demonstrated the strong vitality and institutional superiority of "one country, two systems", with its status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre remaining firmly consolidated. He also pointed out that Hong Kong must in future fulfil three key roles and contributions: safeguarding the Constitution and the Basic Law; better integrating into and serving the overall national development by seizing the national development directives and opportunities for Hong Kong set out in the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, building an international innovation and technology centre as well as a hub for international high-calibre talents, and developing new quality productive forces; and serving as a bridge for exchanges between Chinese culture and world civilisations by telling the true stories of the successful practice of "one country, two systems". Finally, Mr Lee called on all sectors to work together to build and develop Hong Kong, contribute to the cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and actively vote on December 7 to elect capable and aspiring Legislative Council members who will join the Government in assisting the victims, promoting reforms and building a better home in Hong Kong.

     Mr Liu, said the Constitution provides rule-of-law safeguards for realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; lays the legal foundation for Hong Kong to integrate into the grand journey of national rejuvenation; and endows Hong Kong with institutional advantages to leverage its strengths in the great cause of national rejuvenation. Under the safeguard of the Constitution, China has today become the most stable, reliable and proactive force in global development, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. He emphasised that the Legislative Council election proceeding as scheduled on December 7 will demonstrate observance of and respect for the constitutional order and the spirit of the rule of law, and will provide strong support for maintaining social stability and post-tragedy reconstruction work. It represents the most responsible attitude towards Hong Kong's future.

     Professor Han systematically elaborated on the historical context of the concept of the "Chinese nation", the profound significance of incorporating "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" into the Constitution, how the Constitution provides fundamental legal safeguards for national rejuvenation, and the intrinsic relationship between "one country, two systems" and national rejuvenation. He stressed that the Constitution is the fundamental guarantee for realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He called on everyone to rally social consensus around the Constitution and the Basic Law, safeguard Hong Kong's rule of law, and cherish the hard-won achievements of the practice of "one country, two systems", actively participate in the development of democracy with Hong Kong characteristics under "one country, two systems", and contribute to building an open, inclusive and vibrant international metropolis.

     During the panel discussion session, Professor Lau said the Constitution serves as the "ballast stone" and fundamental legal support for building China into a great country and achieving national rejuvenation. By inscribing "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" into the fundamental law, the Constitution establishes the development path, principles of reform and opening up, and the core leadership position of the Communist Party of China, while providing solid constitutional safeguards for uniting the strength of the entire nation. Mr Lie said that if the Basic Law is likened to a great tree, the Constitution is its root, and together they form Hong Kong's constitutional order. He hoped the younger generation in Hong Kong will deepen their understanding and study of the Constitution, thereby reinforcing the rule-of-law foundation of society.

     The Government has arranged the government website as well as some major television stations to broadcast live the Seminar. The full version of the Seminar will also be uploaded to the website of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/home/index.htm) to enable members of the public to review the Seminar. They may visit the dedicated webpage (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/constitution_day.htm) for other information about Constitution Day.

Ends/Thursday, December 4, 2025
Issued at HKT 20:38

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