——组建香港特别行政区政权机关。回归前夕,香港特别行政区筹备委员会完成组建香港特别行政区第一届政府推选委员会,推选委员会选举董建华为香港特别行政区第一任行政长官人选,随后中央人民政府任命其为特别行政区首任行政长官;推选委员会还选举产生临时立法会议员;首任行政长官董建华任命终审法院法官和高等法院首席法官。上述工作的完成,确保了中央在香港特别行政区成立时即实施有效管治。香港回归后,中央人民政府先后任命经选举产生的行政长官人选董建华、曾荫权、梁振英为第二至第四任行政长官,还任免了历届香港特别行政区政府主要官员。国家领导人出席行政长官和政府主要官员就职典礼并监督他们宣誓。
——支持指导香港特别行政区行政长官和政府依法施政。行政长官每年向中央政府述职,报告基本法贯彻执行情况等须向中央政府负责的事项,国家领导人就贯彻落实基本法的重大事项对行政长官予以指导。中央政府设立国务院港澳事务办公室作为国务院处理港澳事务的办事机构,负责贯彻执行“一国两制”方针政策和中央的有关指示,承担与香港特别行政区政府的工作联系等职责;设立中央人民政府驻香港特别行政区联络办公室作为中央政府驻港机构,履行联系外交部驻港特派员公署和香港驻军、促进香港与内地各领域的交流与合作、联系香港社会各界人士、处理有关涉台事务等职责。
-Forming the power organs of the HKSAR. Prior to the return of Hong Kong, the Preparatory Committee of the HKSAR completed the organization of the Selection Committee of the First Government of the HKSAR. The Selection Committee elected Tung Chee-hwa as the first chief executive of the HKSAR, and then the Central People's Government appointed him as the chief executive. The Selection Committee also elected members of the interim Legislative Council. The first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, appointed the judges of the Court of Final Appeal, and the chief justice of the High Court. The completion of the above work ensured the effective administration of the HKSAR by the central leadership upon its establishment. After the return of Hong Kong to China, the Central People's Government appointed Tung Chee-hwa, Donald Tsang and Leung Chun-ying, all elected, as chief executives of the HKSAR in that order, and appointed and dismissed key officials of their administrations. China's state leaders attended the inauguration ceremonies of the chief executives and key government officials, and heard them take their oaths of office.
-Supporting and guiding the administration of the chief executive and government of the HKSAR in accordance with the law. The chief executive reports his/her work to the central government on an annual basis, on the implementation of the Basic Law and other items for which he/she is accountable to the central government; and the state leaders give guidance to the chief executive on major matters related to the implementation of the Basic Law. The central government has established the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council as an administrative office of the State Council to handle Hong Kong and Macau affairs. The office works to implement the "one country, two systems" principle and related directives of the central government, and is responsible for communicating with the government of the HKSAR. The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR is a resident organ of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong. Its duties involve communication with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR and the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, the promotion of exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland in various areas, communication with personages from all sectors of Hong Kong society, and the handling of affairs involving Taiwan.