Our Home, Together with Our Country
Hello, super students! Welcome to your study notes for a very important chapter. We're going to learn all about our amazing home, Hong Kong, and its special connection with our country, the People's Republic of China. It's like learning the rules of a big, exciting team game where we are all players! Understanding this helps us know how our city works and how we can be great citizens. Let's begin!
Section 1: Our Special Connection: "One Country, Two Systems"
This might sound like a big idea, but it's actually quite simple. Don't worry, we'll break it down together!
What is "One Country, Two Systems"?
Imagine a very big family living in a huge house. This big family is our country, China. Now, imagine one room in that house is for Hong Kong. Hong Kong is part of the family (that's the "One Country" part), but inside its room, it has some of its own special rules and ways of doing things (that's the "Two Systems" part).
One Country: This means Hong Kong is and has always been an inseparable part of our country, the People's Republic of China.
Two Systems: This means that while the main part of China uses a socialist system, Hong Kong gets to keep its own capitalist system and way of life. This special arrangement was set up to last for 50 years from 1997.
The Story of Hong Kong's Return
On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong returned to our country. This was a very important day! From that day on, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was created. An "administrative region" is just a fancy way of saying a special area with its own local government.
The Most Important Laws: Constitution and Basic Law
Every country and city needs rules to keep things fair and safe. For us, the two most important rulebooks are the Constitution and the Basic Law.
Think of it like this:
The Constitution of the People's Republic of China is the "Parent Law". It's the biggest and most powerful rulebook for the entire country, including Hong Kong.
The Basic Law of the HKSAR is like the "Child Law" for Hong Kong. It's our own special rulebook, and it gets its power from the "Parent Law" (the Constitution). The Basic Law protects our "Two Systems" way of life.
Quick Review!
Parent Law = The Constitution (for all of China)
Child Law = The Basic Law (special for Hong Kong)
The Basic Law must follow the Constitution!
What does the Basic Law promise?
The Basic Law sets out some very important ideas:
"Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong": This means the people running the daily business of Hong Kong are from Hong Kong.
A high degree of autonomy: This means Hong Kong can make many of its own decisions about things like its economy and education, while being under the main government of China.
Key Takeaway
Hong Kong is a special part of China. The principle of "One Country, Two Systems" allows us to have our own way of life, which is protected by our special rulebook, the Basic Law.
Section 2: Being a Good Citizen of Hong Kong
Being part of a community means we all have a role to play. Let's learn about our rights and the important duties we have as citizens.
Our Rights and Responsibilities
Think of rights and responsibilities like a see-saw. They need to be balanced!
Rights are the freedoms and protections that the Basic Law gives us. For example:
The right to vote for people to represent us.
Freedom of speech, which means we can share our ideas.
Responsibilities are the duties we have to our community and country. For example:
The duty to obey the law.
The duty to respect other people.
When we grow up, the duty to pay taxes to help run the city.
Having a Say: Elections
An election is a process where citizens vote to choose people to help run the government. When we are old enough to vote, participating in elections is a very important commitment we make to our society and our country. It's our way of helping to build a better future.
Why Following the Law is Super Important
Having law and order means our city is safe, fair, and organised. Imagine if there were no traffic lights—it would be chaos!
Laws are rules that everyone must follow to keep us safe. For example, laws about food safety make sure the snacks we eat are clean.
The rule of law is a very important idea. It means that NO ONE is above the law. Everyone, from a student to the city's leader, must follow the same rules. This makes our society fair for all.
Key Takeaway
As good citizens, we enjoy many rights, but we also have responsibilities. The most important one is to obey the law, because the rule of law keeps our home safe, orderly, and fair for everyone.
Section 3: Our Government and Keeping Everyone Safe
Who runs our city and makes sure we are safe? Let's find out about our government and the most important job it has: protecting us!
Who Helps Run Hong Kong?
The HKSAR Government and different district organisations work hard every day for us. Their work is connected to our lives in so many ways!
Think about your day: The clean water you drink, the bus you take to school, the library where you borrow books—these are all services managed by the government and its partners.
What is National Security?
This is a big topic, but the idea is simple. Just like we lock our front door to keep our family and home safe from danger, a country needs to protect itself from big threats. This is called national security.
It’s not just about armies; it's about keeping the country stable, peaceful, and prosperous so everyone can live a good life.
The National Security Law (NSL)
To protect our country and Hong Kong, a special law was made. It is called the National Security Law.
Why was it made? It was made to keep Hong Kong stable and prosperous, and to make sure the "One Country, Two Systems" principle stays strong. It helps protect us from activities that could seriously harm our country and our city.
Who made it? It was made by the highest government body in our country, the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.
How does it work in Hong Kong? This important law was added into an appendix of the Basic Law so it could be put into action here. The HKSAR Government has the duty to make sure this law is followed, and there are special departments and agencies to help enforce it.
Did you know?
Protecting national security is a duty for the whole country. The Central Government in Beijing has the right and responsibility to make laws like the NSL to ensure the safety and interests of all its people, including us in Hong Kong.
Key Takeaway
The HKSAR Government provides services for our daily lives. A very important part of its job is to uphold the National Security Law, which protects both our country and Hong Kong, ensuring our home remains a safe and stable place for us to grow and thrive.