BEIJING, June 10 -- The "one country, two systems" policy ensured Hong Kong's smooth return to the motherland, said a white paper published by the Chinese central government on Tuesday.

"Following this principle, the Chinese government successfully solved the question of Hong Kong through diplomatic negotiations with the British government, and resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, fulfilling the common aspiration of the Chinese people for the recovery of Hong Kong," said the white paper.

Titled "The Practice of the 'One Country, Two Systems' Policy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region," the white paper said Hong Kong got rid of colonial rule and returned to the embrace of the motherland, and embarked on the broad road of common development with the mainland, as they complemented each other's advantages.

"One country, two systems" was put forward by late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s in an effort to realize the peaceful reunification of China, and this ingenious design was first applied to solve the question of Hong Kong.

According to Deng, "one country, two systems" means there is only but one China and under this premise the mainland adheres to the socialist system while Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan may retain their capitalist systems over a long time to come.

Hong Kong's return to the motherland turned "one country, two systems" from a scientific concept into vivid reality, the white paper said.

As members of the big Chinese family, the people of Hong Kong and the people of the mainland share the pride and glory of the great mother country, and bear the common responsibility and mission of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the white paper said.