Wang calls for more efforts to help HK integrate into national development

Participants at meeting highlight instructions made by President Xi

More efforts should be made to support Hong Kong's integration into the national development, as well as making better use of "one country, two systems" in the nation's further reform and opening-up, said Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, at a meeting on Monday.

The gathering, which drew Hong Kong-based central government officials and business leaders of mainland enterprises, focused on instructions made by President Xi Jinping as he joined deputies' discussions during the annual sessions of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body. The annual meetings, often referred to as the "two sessions", concluded last week in Beijing.

Noting Xi's remarks were important instructions to guide Hong Kong's development, participants at the meeting vowed to do their best in implementing central government policies. They also pledged to enhance public awareness of policy objectives and favorable measures announced during the two sessions to help Hong Kong's integrated development with the nation.

To meet these goals, liaison officials and business leaders identified the main areas to concentrate efforts on in accordance with Xi's instructions. They will continue to give full support to the SAR government to administer the city in accordance with law. This is to achieve economic growth while improving people's quality of life. 

They expressed support for Hong Kong to contribute to the poverty alleviation efforts on the mainland. This means increasing cooperation on environmental protection among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao and jointly building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with high living standards.

Another key area is extending the reach and appeal of Chinese culture in Hong Kong. This entails leveraging Hong Kong's global network to increase cultural exchanges internationally.

Those who attended the meeting included Xie Feng, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR and principal members of the Hong Kong branches of mainland enterprises and institutions. These include the China Merchants Group and Bank of China (Hong Kong).

They stressed the importance of keeping the people of Hong Kong informed about policy incentives from the two sessions. This would enhance the public's understanding about how these policies relate to them while encouraging Hong Kong people to take advantage of them.

This week witnessed public seminars and events featuring NPC deputies and CPPCC members' sharing of the two sessions and covering various sectors of Hong Kong society.

stushadow@chinadailyhk.com