HK to play vital role in Bay Area: Wang

Liaison chief says the SAR's participation will be 'unique' and 'irreplaceable'

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region can expect a bright and prosperous future as a leader in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the central government's liaison chief in the city stressed on Wednesday.

Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said the Bay Area is a crucial development vision for the nation. He added that solid work to drive its development forward is now underway.

In this national-level strategy, the central government attached great importance to the HKSAR - viewing its participation as "unique" and "irreplaceable". The city, therefore, could anticipate a brighter and more prosperous future, Wang concluded. 

Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said "one country, two systems" will be the prime principle guiding Hong Kong's participation in the Bay Area development, while delivering a speech at a Wednesday seminar themed on the two sessions. Edmond Tang / China Daily

He made the remarks when delivering a keynote speech at a seminar held in Hong Kong. Attended by some 1,500 guests, the seminar featured a series of speeches themed on the just-concluded two sessions - the second sessions of the 13th National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

The Bay Area is one of the issues most discussed at the two sessions which concluded on Friday. Consisting of two SARs and nine cities in Guangdong province, the development outline for the 11-city cluster was unveiled in mid-February.

Wang said Hong Kong's leading role in the Bay Area was illustrated through its active and full participation in forming the Bay Area development outline.

Suggestions put forward by different sectors in the SAR have been fully acknowledged by the central government; concerns raised by the city had been thoroughly answered in the development blueprint, he added.

The liaison chief dismissed claims that Hong Kong's participation in the Bay Area development was without the city's consent. He called these "totally groundless".

Hong Kong is a planner and an executor in the Bay Area development, and will definitely share in its great success, Wang concluded.

In addition, he reiterated that "one country, two systems" is the prime principle guiding Hong Kong's participation in the Bay Area, and it will not be compromised at any level.

Wang explained this is because the principle has been given great priority whenever the Bay Area development is discussed, whether in its first mention in the report President Xi Jinping delivered at the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress, or in the several seminars attended by high-ranking officials from member cities.

In closing his speech, Wang called on Hong Kong people to be bold in their participation of the Bay Area development. He believes Hong Kong's new round of success could be achieved along with the SAR people's full participation in developing the Bay Area.

willa@chinadailyhk.com

Highlights of Wang's speech

Hong Kong's national legislators and political advisers submitted 193 motions to the National People's Congress and 493 to the CPPCC National Committee.

The amendment suggestions made by four Hong Kong NPC deputies on this year's Government Work Report were adopted by the drafting committee.

Hong Kong was mentioned 102 times in the Bay Area's development outline - the most among the four core cities which also include Macao, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The country has attached great importance to Hong Kong. The city plays a vital role in the area's development.

Policies released in this year's Government Work Report, such as a significant tax deduction for enterprises - especially for small and medium-sized companies - and efforts to support green finance have brought great benefits and opportunities for Hong Kong investors to cash in on the mainland.

Hong Kong can keep playing its role in various aspects of the nation's development, including environmental protection, poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, innovation and entrepreneurship. It can also make contributions to the promotion of Chinese traditional culture as well as the "one country, two systems" principle.

Leading Bay Area institutions (established or to be established soon):

The Steering Committee for the Development of the Greater Bay Area (of the Hong Kong SAR Government)

Greater Bay Area Development Office (of the HKSAR Government)

Greater Bay Area Academician Alliance 

(HK Edition 03/21/2019 page4)