Two sessions results benefit HK’s stability and future development

Political consensus and decisions made in the nation’s two sessions will give Hong Kong greater policy stability and boost its future development, 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, made the remarks at a public sharing session on the two sessions in Hong Kong on Friday.

One of the decisions that safeguard Hong Kong’s stability, Wang said, was the inclusion of the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into the Constitution. This is because upholding “one country, two systems” and promoting national reunification were among the 14 points highlighted in Xi’s thought.

It is the first time that upholding “one country, two systems” and promoting national reunification was enshrined in the Constitution.

The 14 points form the basic policy underpinning the Party’s endeavors to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

“This undoubtedly provides Hong Kong a more solid constitutional guarantee of the continuous implementation

The central leadership places the “one country, two systems” and Hong Kong’s development in an important position in the nation’s governance, the central government’s top liaison official said on Friday.

Wang Zhimin recalled numerous recent occasions and important meetings at which President Xi Jinping said the development of the Hong Kong and the wellbeing of its people weigh heavily on his mind.

Wang recalled that President Xi emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities offered by development of the Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area, of ‘one country, two systems’,” said Wang.

What will also benefit Hong Kong and its people’s development is the reform of State institutions, added Wang.

The first session of the 13th National People’s Congress, which concluded last month, approved the State Council institutional reform plan of 2018.

These reforms will benefit Hong Kong’s “dreams” on the mainland in different ways, Wang said.

For example, the simplified State-level and lower-level taxation systems on the mainland will make it easier for Hong Kong people running businesses there.

Moreover, the newly established National Supervisory Commission, an anti-graft body seen as mainland’s equivalent of Independent Commission Against Corruption, will improve the country’s overall business and social environment, added Wang.

This will also help in creating a healthy environment for Hong Kong people to live, work and do business on the mainland.

Wang also reiterated that supporting Hong Kong’s integration into the country’s overall development is the central government’s long-term strategy to boost continuous development of the SAR.

To channel support and facilitate such integration, and urged the Guangdong delegation to the National People’s Congress to accelerate the implementation process. It could then build an international Bay Area, as well as a world-class metropolitan area.

Supporting Hong Kong’s integration into the country’s overall development is the central government’s long-term strategy to boost continuous development of the special administrative region, Wang said. He added that the Bay Area is a crucial platform to channel support and facilitate such integration.

Moreover, Xi mentioned the “one country, two systems” principle in his Hong Kong should play a “super-connector” role, he said. It should participate in the nation’s global Belt and Road Initiative and the GuangdongHong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.

Wang cited the innovation industry as an example. By joining with Guangdong province, whose high-tech industries are thriving, Hong Kong can make great progress in innovation. It will then catch up with the world’s leading players, Wang said.

In a follow-up discussion panel, Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, Standing Committee member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, welcomed constitutional amendments to safeguard Hong Kong’s stability.

She said political stability is the key to a society’s development. “If a society is politically unstable, it cannot develop.”

Witman Hung Wai-man, Hong Kong delegate of the National People’s Congress, said that the Bay Area might be Hong Kong’s last important opportunity.

He said that to achieve further development, Hong Kong needs to change its mindset. The SAR needs to integrate into the overall development of the country, and strive to deepen its complementary advantages and link up with the industrial chain in the Bay Area.

Central leadership cares about Hong Kong

keynote speech at the closing meeting of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress.

By paying tribute to the victims of the recent Tai Po bus crash, offering his respects to late sinologist Jao Tsung-i and sending Spring Festival greetings to Hong Kong youths in a letter to members of the Junior Police Call, which he visited in June last year, Xi showed his concern for Hong Kong, Wang said.

It also demonstrated that Zhongnanhai, headquarters of the central government, is well connected to the people of Hong Kong, Wang added.