HK, Macao’s well-being ‘close to Xi’s heart, mind’

The central government remains fully committed to supporting the successful implementation of “one country, two systems” for lasting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, the central government’s top liaison official in the city said on Friday.

Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was addressing an audience that included Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and some 330 senior SAR government officials.

At the SAR government’s invitation, Wang shared his firsthand experience and highlights of the just concluded annual meetings of the country’s top legislature and political advisory body.

He recalled numerous recent occasions and important meetings at which President Xi Jinping said the development of the Hong Kong and Macao SARs and the well-being of the people of the two regions weigh heavily on his mind.

Xi also mentioned the “one country, two systems” principle in his keynote speech at the closing meeting of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress last Tuesday.

Having been elected president of China by a unanimous vote on March 18 during the two sessions, Xi will lead the country toward greater prosperity, and his care for Hong Kong and Macao means the two regions, like the mainland, will enjoy sound development and a brighter future, Wang said.

The liaison chief also relayed a key message from Xi about the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, when the president took part in deliberations with members of the Guangdong provincial delegation to the NPC during the two sessions.

Xi emphasized the importance of seizing the opportunities of development of the Bay Area, and urged the Guangdong delegation to accelerate the implementation process, and build a first-class international Bay Area, as well as a world-class metropolitan area.

Wang reiterated that supporting Hong Kong and Macao’s integration into the country’s overall development is the central government’s long-term strategy to boost continuous development of the two SARs, adding that the Bay Area is a crucial platform to channel support and facilitate such integration.

On the future of the Bay Area, Wang said he’s confident it will become an economically vibrant, socially diverse and energetic community for people to live, work and study in.

To realize a triple-win scenario, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao should give full play to the distinctive strengths of the three places, while making use of the unique advantages of “one country, two systems”. This will serve to increase overall integration in the Bay Area and enhance regional competitiveness, said Wang.

He pointed out that it’s imperative to promote a better understanding of the achievements and policy directions of the two sessions. He vowed that the liaison office will do everything it can to help the HKSAR government maintain close contact with relevant central government authorities and various sectors, and continue to support its work in full and faithful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle.

In a post on her social media account after the seminar, Lam said she appreciated Wang’s efforts and that his views resonated with hers.