中国贯彻“一国两制”方针的同时，始终坚持“三条底线”不容触碰，即绝对不能允许任何危害国家主权安全、绝对不能允许挑战中央权力和《基本法》权威、绝对不能允许利用香港对内地进行渗透破坏的活动。上周举行的中共十九届四中全会再次重申，绝不容忍任何挑战“一国两制”底线的行为，绝不容忍任何分裂国家的行为。

For this formula to work in Hong Kong, there are three bottom lines – namely, no tolerance for any activity that,

one, undermines national sovereignty and security;

two, challenges the authority of the Central Government or the Basic Law;

and, three, uses Hong Kong for infiltration or sabotage against the Chinese mainland.

The fourth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China concluded last week reiterated that China will never tolerate any act that challenges the bottom line of "One Country, Two Systems", or any attempt to split the country.

　　第二，究竟谁在破坏“一国两制”？香港回归22年多来，中国政府始终坚定不移、全面准确贯彻“一国两制”方针，取得举世公认的成就。数月前，香港特区政府提出“修例”，目的是堵塞法律漏洞、完善香港法治，使香港不再是“避罪天堂”。事实上，无论特区政府启动“修例”，还是撤回“修例”，都是香港实行“一国两制”、“港人治港”、高度自治的具体体现。

The second question is, who is undermining "One Country, Two Systems"?

In the past 22 years since the handover of Hong Kong, the Chinese Government has remained committed to implementing "One Country, Two Systems" fully and accurately. This is recognised the world over.

A few months ago, the SAR Government proposed to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance for the purpose of plugging a legal loophole, strengthening rule of law and preventing Hong Kong from becoming a haven for fugitives.

In fact, both the initiation and the later withdrawal of the amendments are reflections of "One Country, Two Systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong.

　　香港反对派和激进势力，以反“修例”为借口，不断挑起事端，策动各种抗争，大肆鼓吹“港独”，公然宣扬“光复香港”，企图搞乱香港、瘫痪政府、进而夺取香港的管治权，把香港从祖国分离出去，这才是破坏“一国两制”！香港极端暴力分子连环施暴，无差别破坏，寻仇式攻击，以丧失理智的疯狂行为制造一桩桩令人发指的暴力罪行，严重挑战香港法治和社会秩序，严重威胁香港民众生命财产安全，这才是破坏“一国两制”！一些西方国家政客不仅扮演幕后“黑手”，对香港暴力活动进行协调、指导和资助，甚至公然跳到台前。不久前美国国会众议院无视国际法和国际关系准则，通过所谓《香港人权和民主法案》，赤裸裸地为暴力违法分子撑腰打气，粗暴干涉香港事务和中国内政，图谋把香港变成中国的一个麻烦，牵制和遏制中国的发展，这才是破坏“一国两制”！

The opposition and radical forces in Hong Kong have taken as an excuse the difference of views on the amendments to stir up trouble, instigate confrontations, advocate "Hong Kong independence" and publicly clamour for the "liberation of Hong Kong". Their real intention is to destabilise Hong Kong and paralyse the SAR Government, so that they could seize administrative power and separate Hong Kong from the motherland. It is they who are undermining "One Country, Two Systems"!

The radical offenders in Hong Kong have conducted a series of violent acts. For weeks and weeks, they have engaged in indiscriminate destruction and carried out vindictive attacks. These senseless and frenzied mobs have committed outrageous and violent offences. Their actions gravely challenged the rule of law and social order in Hong Kong, and posed a severe threat to the safety of life and property of the public. It is these radical offenders who are undermining "One Country, Two Systems"!

Some politicians in Western countries have not only coordinated, guided and funded the violent acts in Hong Kong behind the scene. They have even come to the fore. Last month, the US House of Representatives adopted the so-called "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act" in disregard of international law and the norms governing international relations. By taking this move, the US Congress is in fact supporting the violent offenders publicly, interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong and the internal affairs of China blatantly, and attempting to turn Hong Kong into a trouble for China so as to contain China's development. It is these politicians who are undermining "One Country, Two Systems"!

　　第三，“一国两制”究竟与《中英联合声明》有无关系？时至今日，英国仍有人常拿《联合声明》说事，把“一国两制”和《联合声明》混为一谈，似乎英国是“一国两制”的版权持有者。正如我前面所说，邓小平先生才是“一国两制”伟大构想的创立者，版权属于中国。不能把“联合声明”与“一国两制”等同起来，英国不能申索不属于它的权利。事实上，《联合声明》共有8条正文、3个附件：第一条规定中国对香港恢复行使主权，第二条规定英国将香港交还给中国，香港回归后，这两条均已履行完毕；第四条至第六条以及附件二、三规定两国在回归过渡期的有关安排，第七、八条是关于实施和生效的条款，这些规定随着香港回归和各项后续工作完成也已履行完毕，《联合声明》也因此完成它的历史使命。需要指出的是，第三条及附件一是中国对香港基本方针政策的原则阐述及具体说明，这是中国单方面政策宣示，而非中国对英国的承诺或义务。这些基本方针都纳写入《基本法》，将继续得到全面有效落实。因此，“一国两制”绝非源于《联合声明》。我们说“一国两制”50年不变，是遵守《基本法》，而不是《联合声明》。英国对回归后的香港，无主权、无治权、无监督权。少数英国政客借口《联合声明》对香港事务说三道四、横加干涉，毫无道理可言，不仅违背“一国两制”，也违反国际关系基本准则。

Now let me turn to the third question: Does "One Country, Two Systems" have anything to do with the Sino-British Joint Declaration?

Even today, some people in the UK still cite the Joint Declaration and confuse it with "One Country, Two Systems", as if the UK held the copyright of "One Country, Two Systems"!

As I said earlier, it was Deng Xiaoping who proposed this great concept. The "copyright" of this principle belongs to China. "One Country, Two Systems" is not a synonym of the Joint Declaration. The UK must not claim the right that does not belong to it.

Here is a useful reminder of the contents of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The Joint Declaration consists of eight articles and three annexes.

Article 1 states that China is to resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. Article 2 states that the UK will restore Hong Kong to China. These articles were both fulfilled at the handover of Hong Kong.

Articles 4, 5 and 6, and Annexes II and III are about the relevant arrangements during the transitional period. Article 7 and 8 are about the implementation and entry into force of the Joint Declaration. All these provisions have been fulfilled with the return of Hong Kong and the completion of the ensuing matters.

What needs to be pointed out is that, in Article 3 and Annex I, the Chinese Government laid out the principles and made detailed elaboration on its basic policies regarding Hong Kong. These policies were proposed by China on our own initiative and they are not China's commitments or obligations to the UK. These basic principles have been included in the Basic Law and will continue to be implemented fully and effectively.

Therefore, "One Country, Two Systems" was not originated from the Joint Declaration at all. When China pledged that "One Country, Two Systems" would remain unchanged for 50 years, we did this in accordance with the Basic Law, rather than the Joint Declaration.

The UK has no sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of "supervision" over Hong Kong whatsoever. Citing the Joint Declaration as a justification for irresponsible remarks and interference in Hong Kong affairs has no valid ground. This goes against not only "One Country, Two Systems", but also the basic norms governing international relations.