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“Understanding the Political Structure and Administrative Areas of the Nation”

Learning and Teaching Resources

Self-learning On-line Course

Theme: Hong Kong under “One Country, Two Systems”

Topic: Situation of the country and sense of national identity


Prior Knowledge

Students should have gained the following learning experiences of in their basic education:
  • A general idea about the internal political affairs of the People’s Republic of China since its establishment, relationship between the Central Government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the importance of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China to Hong Kong residents.

Suggestions on the Use of this Self-learning On-line Course

  • Students are advised to bring along the text of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China1 for reference.

Study the following source, and answer the questions.

Reading Materials

1. Consolidation of knowledge: National People’s Congress
  • According to Article 57 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (hereafter referred to as the Constitution), the National People’s Congress (hereafter referred to as NPC) is the highest state organ of power. The NPC shall be composed of deputies elected from the provinces, autonomous regions, cities directly under central government jurisdiction, special administrative regions and armed forces. Each NPC shall have a term of five years. According to Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, the NPC shall exercise the following functions and powers:
    • To supervise the enforcement of the Constitution, to enact and amend criminal, civil, state institutional and other basic laws.
    • To elect the president and the vice president of the People’s Republic of China, the chairperson of the Central Military Commission, the president of the Supreme People’s Court, the procurator general of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and to decide, based on nomination by the president of the People’s Republic of China, on the successful candidate for the premier of the State Council, and have the power to remove the above personnel from office.
    • To examine and approve the plan for national economic and social development and the report on its implementation; to examine and approve the state budget and the report on its implementation.
  • According to Article 21 of the Basic Law, Chinese citizens who are residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be entitled to participate in the management of state affairs according to law. In accordance with the assigned number of seats and the selection method specified by the NPC, the Chinese citizens among the residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall locally elect deputies of the Region to the National People's Congress to participate in the work of the highest state organ of power.
Excerpted from the following sources:
- “State Structure and Key State Organs of the People’s Republic of China”, Liberal Studies Curriculum Resources Booklet Series: Modern China, p.65-70
- The Constitution and the Basic Law, https://www.basiclaw.gov.hk/en/basiclawtext/index.html


Quiz

Knowledge-based Questions

1. What are the functions and powers of the following institutions of the nation? Please appropriately match the institutions of the nation in column A with the relevant functions and powers / descriptions in column B.
 
Column A
Institutions of the nation		 Column B
Main functions and powers of institutions of the nation / descriptions
 
2. Which of the following are the main functions and powers of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China?
(i) formulating administrative regulations, and issuing decisions and orders
(ii) submitting proposals to the NPC or the NPCSC
(iii) exercising unified leadership over the work of local state administrative organs at all levels nationwide
  A (i) and (ii)
B (i) and (iii)
C (ii) and (iii)
D (i), (ii) and (iii)
 
3. What is the maximum number of consecutive terms could the premier of the State Council of the People’s Public of China serve?
  A 1 term
B 2 terms
C 3 terms
D 4 terms
 
4. Which of the following descriptions about the Supreme People’s Court are correct?
(i) The Supreme People’s Court is the highest procuratorial organ of the nation.
(ii) The Supreme People’s Court supervises the adjudicatory work of local people’s courts at various levels and of special people’s courts.
(iii) The Supreme People’s Court is responsible to the NPC.
(iv) The Supreme People’s Court is responsible to the NPCSC.
  A (i), (ii) and (iii)
B (i), (ii) and (iv)
C (ii), (iii) and (iv)
D All of the above
 
5. There are currently 4 cities directly under central government jurisdiction in China, including _________________, _________________, _________________ and _________________.
  A Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing
B Beijing, Tianjin, Xi’an, Chongqing
C Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou
D Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Guangzhou
 


Advanced Questions

1. The functions and powers of the National People’s Congress could be mainly divided into the legislative power, the appointment and removal power, the decision-making power and the supervisory power. Match the four functions and powers in column A appropriately with the descriptions in column B
 
Column A
Main functions and powers of the NPC		 Column B
Descriptions about the main functions and powers of the NPC
 
2. According to Article 31 of the Constitution, the state may establish special administrative regions when necessary. The systems instituted in special administrative regions shall, in light of specific circumstances, be prescribed by _________________ enacted by the National People’s Congress
  A laws
B orders
C administrative regulations
D decisions
 
3. Which state institution exercises the power of interpretation of the Basic Law?
  A The National People’s Congress
B The National People’s Congress Standing Committee
C The State Council of the People’s Republic of China
D The Supreme People’s Court
 
4. According to Article 67 of the Constitution, the main functions and powers of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee include _________________.
(i) amending the Basic Law
(ii) supervising the enforcement of the Constitution
(iii) interpreting the Constitution
  A (i) and (ii)
B (i) and (iii)
C (ii) and (iii)
D (i), (ii) and (iii)
 
5. According to Article 80 of the Constitution, the president of the People’s Republic of China, pursuant to decisions of the National People’s Congress and the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, _________________.
  A interprets the Basic Law
B promulgates the Basic Law
C interprets laws
D promulgates laws
 
6. The current president of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, also serves as ____________.
(i) the premier of the State Council
(ii) the general secretary of the Communist Party of China
(iii) the chairperson of the Central Military Commission
  A (i) and (ii)
B (i) and (iii)
C (ii) and (iii)
D (i), (ii) and (iii)
 


Situational Questions


Study the following sources, and answer the questions.

Source A
       The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended a ceremony in commemoration of the massive Wenchuan earthquake at the former Xuankou Middle School which was torn down by the earthquake, in Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan County. Participants observed a moment of silence and presented flowers to mourn the victims.

       Leading the delegates of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government of the Sichuan trip, Mrs Lam visited the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu in the morning to learn about various research and development projects on artificial intelligence and robotics, and attended a tea gathering with students and young entrepreneurs from Hong Kong. She said that HKSAR Government attached great importance to the development of innovation and technology, and had implemented a number of policy initiatives. She added that Hong Kong young people in Sichuan were welcome to come back to Hong Kong to advance the city’s development of innovation technology with the Government in the future.
Excerpted and adapted from the Press Release of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - CE attends activity in commemoration of 10th anniversary of Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan.
Retrieved from https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201805/12/P2018051200945.htm

Source B
       National identity involves a number of factors including the country’s language, cultural heritage, history, people’s livelihood, governance, overall national strength and international status. At times, the level of sense of identity may vary with changes in the external environment or subjective feelings.

       Many Hong Kong people have profound feelings of pride for Hong Kong, the land where they were born and raised, for its way of life and culture. On the other hand, Hong Kong is an inalienable part of China and is closely linked with the nation, so an emphasis on local identity and recognition of the characteristics and strengths of Hong Kong can also be a driving force for Hong Kong people to promote national development and care for the well-being of the whole nation, as well as enhance their personal sense of national identity. Local and national identities simply represent different levels of recognition and they co-exist and promote each other.
Source: Excerpted from “Identity”, Liberal Studies Curriculum Resources Booklet Series: Hong Kong Today, p.50-51

1. According to Source A, which province of the Mainland did the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visit?
 
 
2. With reference to Source B, why is understanding of the nation closely related to building up of national identity? Elaborate your views.
 
 
3. What are the possible reasons that would enhance the national identity of the people of Hong Kong? Explain your answer using the event described in Source A as example(s).
 
Events mentioned in Source A Possible reasons that would enhance the national identity of the people of Hong Kong
   
   
 


Extended Readings

  • The Constitution of the People's Republic of China
    http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/lawsregulations/201911/20/content_WS5ed8856ec6d0b3f0e9499913.html
  • The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
    http://en.cppcc.gov.cn/
  • The State Council of the People's Republic of China - Administrative Division
    http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/china_abc/2014/08/27/content_281474983873401.htm
  • The State Council of the People's Republic of China - State Structure of the People’s Republic of China
    http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/china_abc/2014/08/23/content_281474982987300.htm


1 The texts of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Basic Law of the HKSAR of the PRC are available free of charge at any District Offices under the Home Affairs Department.