(Essential questions) Heavy | Liu Shuyong: Why is Hong Kong special and important in the history of the Chinese Communist Party for a century?
China News Service, Beijing, June 28. Title: Why is Hong Kong special and important in the centuries-year history of the Communist Party of China?
——Interview with Professor Liu Shuyong, a famous expert on Hong Kong history
China News Agency reporter An Yingzhao
2021 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
Speaking of the CCP and Hong Kong, people may first think of the Sino-British negotiations since the 1980s, the return of Hong Kong to the motherland, and the formulation and practice of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy.
"Hong Kong's destiny has always been closely linked to the motherland. The Communist Party of China has been established for a century, and every stage of development is also related to Hong Kong." Professor Liu Shuyong, a well-known Hong Kong history expert and a senior researcher at the Hong Kong and South China History Research Department of Lingnan University, recently accepted China News Agency. In an exclusive interview with Dongxi Wenwen, he pointed out that as a special and important role, with the continuous deepening of related research, the little-known stories of the "Pearl of the Orient" and the centuries-old CCP will be widely extolled.
The summary of the interview record is as follows:
China News Agency reporter: In 1920, Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao "South Chen and North Li, meet to build a party" laid an important foreshadowing for the birth of the Communist Party of China. Studies have shown that Chen Duxiu passed through Hong Kong when he went south from Shanghai to Guangzhou, and indirectly contributed to the establishment of the early Communist Party organizations in Hong Kong. What was the situation at that time? How was the earliest Chinese Communist Party organization born in Hong Kong?
Liu Shuyong:
Chen Duxiu did pass through Hong Kong when he sailed from Shanghai to Guangzhou at the end of 1920.
At that time, the boat that Chen took was moored at the Hong Kong pier. Three young Hong Kong people Lin Changchi (Lin Junwei), Zhang Rendao, and Li Yibao brought their publication "Truth, Goodness, and Beauty" to the boat and had a brief meeting with Chen Duxiu.
This "Truth, Goodness and Beauty" is an indeterminate periodical published by Lin, Zhang, and Li between 1920 and 1921. It mainly introduces the basic principles of Marxism.
After Chen Duxiu read "Truth, Goodness and Beauty", he spoke highly of the three and encouraged them to set up a Marxist research group.
Soon after, they set up a group in Li Yibao's home in Huangniyong Mongolian Primary School in Happy Valley and began to study Marxism.
When Marxism was introduced to China, the intellectuals who first began to study were only in a few cities, and Hong Kong was among them.
Because Hong Kong is very open and the re-export trade is developed, it is a place where Chinese and Western cultures gather. Western thoughts came to the Chinese mainland through this place, and Chinese thoughts also spread to the West through Hong Kong.
Based on the special historical and geographical environment, various social thoughts have a certain soil for development in Hong Kong. Therefore, magazines promoting Marxism appeared in Hong Kong very early, and the establishment of a Marxist research group was also very early.
It is evident from this that Hong Kong plays a very special role in the process of communication and integration between China and the West.
In 1923, Li Yibao rushed to Guangzhou and established contact with the Communist Youth League through the New Student Club.
After returning to Hong Kong, Li Yibao established the Communist Youth League organization in Hong Kong and was elected branch secretary, and was later replaced by Lin Changchi. Li specializes in the labor movement.
After that, Lin, Zhang, and Li formed the Hong Kong Communist Party Group, of which Lin Changchi was an alternate party member.
This is the earliest party organization in Hong Kong, marking the beginning of the CCP’s history in Hong Kong.
China News Service: After the founding of the Communist Party of China, it organized and led many turbulent labor movements across the country. The famous provincial-Hong Kong strike broke out in Hong Kong. Is there a connection between the two? What role did Hong Kong play in the early development of the CCP?
Liu Shuyong:
Industrial workers are the social foundation of the CCP.
Hong Kong seamen are one of the earliest industrial workers in China.
In the early days, members of the Communist Party of China in Hong Kong attached great importance to working among seamen, and often gave speeches among seamen to promote revolutionary principles.
The labor movement in Hong Kong, especially the Seamen's Union, has trained and trained a group of backbone party members for the CCP. Lin Weimin, Su Zhaozheng, Chen Yu, and Zeng Sheng are outstanding representatives.
In 1922, a seamen's strike broke out in Hong Kong. The main sponsors Lin Weimin and Su Zhaozheng joined the Communist Party of China successively.
After the "May 30th Massacre" in 1925, Communists such as Su Zhaozheng and Deng Zhongxia led the famous provincial and Hong Kong strikes in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, which lasted until 1926 and lasted about 16 months, setting the world’s longest single strike at that time. Record.
General Zeng Sheng also engaged in the labor movement in Hong Kong in the 1930s and served as the secretary of the Hong Kong Seamen Committee of the Communist Party of China.
During the Anti-Japanese War, Zeng Sheng served as the commander of the East River Column of the largest anti-Japanese guerrilla in South China, and made outstanding contributions to the establishment of the South China Anti-Japanese Base Area and the development and growth of the South China Anti-Japanese Armed Forces.
After the founding of New China, Zeng Sheng was awarded the rank of major general in 1955 and later served as Minister of Transportation.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Hong Kong provided a very important "refuge" for the Communist Party organizations and some leading cadres in southern China.
Zhou Enlai used to recuperate on Canton Road in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, and participated in a meeting of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China in Hong Kong to study the Guangzhou Uprising.
In 1929 and 1930, Deng Xiaoping passed through Hong Kong twice to discuss work.
Many later founding marshals such as Nie Rongzhen and Ye Jianying had taken refuge in Hong Kong.
In 1927, Chiang Kai-shek launched the "April 15th counter-revolutionary coup" in Guangzhou.
The Guangdong District Committee of the Communist Party of China as the leading organ of the Communist Party of China in Guangdong Province immediately moved to Hong Kong.
After the August 7th meeting of the same year, according to the decision of the Provisional Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the first Guangdong Provincial Party Committee of the Communist Party of China was formally established in Hong Kong, and Zhang Tailei served as the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Southern Bureau.
Since then, the name of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China has been changed several times, but the leading agency has been based in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has also become the command center of revolutionary struggles in Guangdong and even southern China during the Agrarian Revolutionary War.
Canton Road in Yau Ma Tei in about 1930 (the original book "Hong Kong Kowloon" edited by Zheng Baohong). During this period, the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee of the Communist Party of China carried out work in Hong Kong.
During the Civil War between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, Hong Kong became an important part of the secret communication line that entered the Central Soviet Area from the outside world.
In the autumn and winter of 1930, this line of communication was secretly opened with the support of the Southern Bureau and the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee. It could enter the Central Soviet Area from Shanghai-Hong Kong-Shantou-Dapu-Qingxi-Yongding.
Until the Central Red Army began the Long March in 1934, more than 200 important CCP leaders including Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Deng Xiaoping, Ye Jianying, Chen Yun, Bogu, and Ren Bishi entered the Central Soviet Area.
China News Agency reporter: During the Anti-Japanese War, what contribution did Hong Kong make to the nation's Anti-Japanese War? What role did the guerrillas led by the Chinese Communist Party play in Hong Kong's War of Resistance?
Liu Shuyong:
After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Hong Kong became an important position for the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party to carry out the anti-Japanese national salvation movement, and an important "material station" for supporting the national anti-Japanese war.
After the "September 18 Incident", especially after the outbreak of the "December 28 Songhu Anti-Japanese War" in 1932, the Hong Kong Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China guided the establishment of the "Hong Kong People's Anti-Japanese Association."
In 1937, the anti-Japanese national salvation campaign launched by the "Yu Xian Le She", a Hong Kong seamen organization led by the Communist Party of China, was vigorous, and the number of people at one time increased to more than 17,000.
After the outbreak of the All-out War of Resistance in 1937, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China dispatched Liao Chengzhi to open an office of the Eighth Route Army in Hong Kong, and participated in the work of the Alliance to Defend China led by Soong Ching Ling.
The office received a large amount of donated materials, and organized car drivers and medical personnel to return to China to participate in the War of Resistance.
In the winter of 1938, the office received 130 boxes of medicines and medical equipment and transferred them to Yan'an via the Guilin Eighth Route Army office.
In October 1939, it received Western medicines donated by overseas Chinese in South America and trucks and cars donated by overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia.
It is worth noting that the office also printed the "Overseas Chinese Newsletter" to report domestic anti-Japanese news to overseas Chinese. Many overseas Chinese youths returned to China to join the Eighth Route Army or the New Fourth Army through the arrangement of the office.
In 1939, the "Dongjiang Overseas Chinese Returning Service Group" was established with the help and guidance of the office. In only half a year, many sub-groups and work teams were established, with a total of more than 500 members, and they were active in the vast number of Dongjiang 13 counties and cities at that time. area.
In December 1941, the Japanese army attacked Hong Kong. The British troops stationed in Hong Kong resisted for only 18 days. The then Hong Kong Governor Yang Muqi surrendered with a white flag.
The Hong Kong and Kowloon Brigade of the Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Group led by the Communist Party of China became the only armed force that formed a structure to persist in the War of Resistance during the fall of Hong Kong, and was the mainstay of the Hong Kong War of Resistance.
On May 29, 2021, about 100 people from the Hong Kong Guangzhou Association and other groups took a boat to the seas of Shazhou and Longguzhou during the naval battle that year to participate in the 78th anniversary of the sacrifice of Liu Chunxiang's anti-Japanese hero group.
After the fall of Hong Kong, several armed labor teams and underground parties, the predecessor of the Hong Kong Kowloon Brigade, secretly rescued about 800 anti-Japanese cultural elites, democrats and their families stranded in Hong Kong.
Mr. Mao Dun, one of the rescued persons, once commented that the rescue was "the greatest rescue work since the Anti-Japanese War."
The Hong Kong and Kowloon Brigade also rescued Allied pilots and provided valuable intelligence to the Allied forces, which was highly praised by the officers in charge of the US Army in China.
During World War II, the Dongjiang Column, including the Hong Kong and Kowloon Brigade, had close cooperation in military and intelligence work with the Chinese Theater Allied Forces led by General Stilwell of the United States. During the Japanese Occupation, a total of 115 people in the Hong Kong and Kowloon Brigade sacrificed to defend Hong Kong. .
The US military and the CCP had a good cooperative relationship during World War II.
This actually embodies the spirit of a community with a shared future for mankind that we often say now.
In 1944, the commander of Dongjiang Column Zeng Sheng (second from right) met with the rescued American pilot Kerr.
China News Service: After the end of the War of Resistance Against Japan, what did the CCP do in Hong Kong? What role did Hong Kong play during the founding of New China?
Liu Shuyong: After
World War II, the British colonial rulers returned to Hong Kong.
Since the CCP and the United Kingdom had a good cooperative relationship during the War of Resistance Against Japan, the United Kingdom allowed the CCP to maintain a certain degree of "legal existence" in Hong Kong in the early post-war period.
During this period, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China carried out urban work centered on Hong Kong, and Hong Kong became the most important activity base for the Communist Party and the democratic parties in the south.
After the Kuomintang launched a full-scale civil war, the CCP established the Hong Kong branch to govern the work of many southern provinces, Hong Kong and Macau, and paid more attention to using Hong Kong to carry out work, turning it into a cultural propaganda position of "anti-civil war and anti-dictatorship" and a refuge for democratic parties and their leaders. Sites and places to rise again, as well as an important logistics support base for the War of Liberation.
In the latter part of the War of Liberation, Hong Kong became the center of the New CPPCC movement. The democratic parties convened meetings in Hong Kong to respond to the "May 1" slogan of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and promote the convening of the New CPPCC.
At the same time, under the escort of the CCP, famous democrats such as Li Jishen, Shen Junru, and Ma Xulun left in Hong Kong secretly went north to participate in the preparations for the New CPPCC, and contributed to the establishment of New China.
Inspired by the new state power led by the Communist Party of China, a large number of institutions of the former National Government in Hong Kong declared an uprising and annexed to New China.
From 1949 to the first half of 1950 alone, more than 20 organizations including China Airlines, Central Airlines, China Merchants, Jiulongguan, and Bank of China Hong Kong branch announced an uprising. A large number of aircraft, ships, other assets and talents were able to return to the mainland, which promoted New China's economic construction.
Dade College campus in 1947
China News Service: After the founding of New China, what stages of development has the CCP's Hong Kong policy experienced? Why is it said that the policy of "one country, two systems" is a great innovation in world history?
Liu Shuyong:
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the central government’s position on the Hong Kong issue was very clear, that is, Hong Kong is China’s territory. China does not recognize the three unequal treaties imposed by imperialism and advocates that the issue should be resolved through negotiations at an appropriate time. Maintain the status quo for the time being.
The principles and policies of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government towards Hong Kong have their historical origins.
As early as the Agrarian Revolution period, the main leaders of the CCP, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, etc., had visited Hong Kong and carried out revolutionary work there, and they had already understood the special role of Hong Kong.
Although Mao Zedong never set foot on the land of Hong Kong himself, he was the earliest decision maker to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
He has been concerned about Hong Kong issues for a long time, valued Hong Kong, and made strategic, political and diplomatic preparations for the return of Hong Kong.
In October 1949, after the People's Liberation Army Field Army liberated Guangzhou, facing the British troops stationed in Hong Kong with only four brigades, they stopped on the Zhangmutou line 40 kilometers north of Luohu.
It turns out that Mao Zedong had already considered this issue.
In early 1949, when Mikoyan went to Xibaipo on behalf of Stalin to understand the internal and foreign policies of New China, Mao Zedong also clearly expressed the position of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Hong Kong issue, "At present, half of the territory has not been liberated. Things on the mainland are better. To do so, just leave the army away. The issues on the island are more complicated and require another flexible way to resolve it, or a peaceful transition, which will take more time. In this case It doesn’t make much sense to rush to solve the problems of Hong Kong and Macau. On the contrary, I am afraid that using the original status of these two places, especially Hong Kong, will be more beneficial to our development of overseas relations and import and export trade. In short, it depends on the situation. The final decision will be made on the development of the country."
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the central government adopted a special policy of "long-term planning and making full use of" Hong Kong. This was a prudent choice based on reality and respecting history.
The CCP maintained the status quo on the Hong Kong issue, maintained Hong Kong's political stability, and provided strong support for Hong Kong's economic take-off economically.
The famous Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong and the "three express trains" are typical examples of the central government's vigorous support for the development of Hong Kong.
The CCP’s special policy towards Hong Kong was a very important factor in Hong Kong’s economic take-off that year, and it also created good conditions for the country’s economic development.
On February 27, 1965, Lin Liming, Deputy Governor of Guangdong Province, cut the ribbon at the completion ceremony of the first phase of Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Project.
From the right in the back row are Wang Kuancheng, vice chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Chen Yaocai, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, and Gao Zhuoxiong, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
Since 1979, Chinese leaders have expressed on different occasions that they will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and maintain the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.
In order to realize the peaceful reunification of the country, Deng Xiaoping creatively put forward the scientific concept of "one country, two systems", which was first used to solve the Hong Kong issue.
On December 4, 1982, Article 31 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, adopted and promulgated at the Fifth Session of the Fifth National People’s Congress on December 4, 1982, stipulates: “The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The implemented system is prescribed by law by the National People's Congress in accordance with specific conditions," providing a constitutional basis for the concept of "one country, two systems".
At the beginning of 1983, the Chinese government formulated twelve basic guidelines and policies for the settlement of the Hong Kong issue, all of which were embodied in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region that was enacted and implemented to this day.
Practice has fully proved that "one country, two systems" is not only the best solution to solve the historical problems of Hong Kong and guarantee the smooth return of Hong Kong, but also the key to the continued prosperity and development after the return.
In 1995, a cover article entitled "The Death of Hong Kong" in the US "Fortune" magazine caused an uproar in public opinion, and some Western public opinions even "badged" Hong Kong and questioned "one country, two systems."
In fact, the opposite is true. Hong Kong has been rated as the freest economy in the world for more than 20 consecutive years after its return. The practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong has achieved universally recognized success.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the central government has implemented the "One Country, Two Systems" policy and has clearly emphasized "unswerving" and "comprehensive accuracy."
The experience in the governance of Hong Kong has enriched the connotation of the CCP’s governance in the new era.
In recent years, especially since the "revision storm" broke out in 2019, Hong Kong society has severely challenged the bottom line of the "one country, two systems" principle. The central government has promulgated and implemented the Hong Kong National Security Law and improved the special administrative region election system. Hong Kong has ushered in chaos and governance. A major turning point.
In the future, I believe that the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong will be able to achieve stability and long-term development, and various deep-seated problems in Hong Kong will be gradually and effectively resolved. Hong Kong will also be able to achieve long-term prosperity and stability, long-term peace and stability, and make due contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. contribution.
(Finish)
Liu Shuyong, a well-known Hong Kong history expert, a senior researcher at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, a consultant for the Hong Kong Local History Center, and a former researcher at the Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Engaged in Hong Kong history research for nearly 40 years, and moved to Hong Kong on invitation in 2005 to promote the compilation of local chronicles in Hong Kong.
The editor-in-chief, independent or co-authored works include "Hong Kong in the Nineteenth Century", "Hong Kong in the Twentieth Century", and "A Concise History of Hong Kong".