Mainland firms urged to help integrate HK to nation
The central government’s liaison chief called on the city’s mainland-invested enterprises to play a leading role in the special administrative region’s integration into the country’s development blueprint, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the GuangdongHong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, made the advice during a recent visit to some Hong Kong-based mainland-invested enterprises, to learn about their operations as well as listen to their suggestions on economic development and livelihood improvement.
During the visit, Wang described the enterprises as a significant force in maintaining Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability, and encouraged them to fully exploit the resources of mainland and Hong Kong markets to better integrate the SAR with national-level development strategies.
On top of reinforcing the strengths of traditional industries such as finance, trade and shipping, Wang also called on mainland-invested enterprises based in Hong Kong to step up efforts in developing innovation and technology industries. This is because it is a vital step to transform the city into an international inno-tech hub.
Wang also reckoned that the enterprises could play a bigger role in the nation’s B&R Initiative, by teaming up with small and middle-size companies in the city to explore business opportunities in regions and countries that are part of the initiative.
He also hopes the enterprises contribute to the construction of a livable Bay Area, by ensuring the implementation of projects in medical treatment, healthcare, education and youth entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, the Liaison Office head also expected the city’s mainland-invested enterprises to play a leading role in serving Hong Kong society, in a bid to maintain its long-term prosperity and stability.
Wang said the enterprises could inject more capital to tackle the city’s livelihood issues, and provide more development opportunities for local people, especially youngsters. He also hoped the companies would shoulder greater social responsibility by actively participating in charity campaigns.
Mainland-invested enterprises in Hong Kong have played an indispensable role in offering national support to the SAR. Some of them have become household names in the city including China Merchants Group, a transport, finance and property conglomerate, Bank of China (Hong Kong), and China Resources, an influential industrial-focused enterprise group.
As well as providing job opportunities and promoting trade between the mainland and Hong Kong, they have also shouldered the responsibility of supplying basic living materials to the land-scarce city.