To The Point
Zhou Bajun urges the two SARs to proactively cooperate with central authorities in creating a strong and prosperous China
The chief executives of the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions led their respective delegations to Beijing to join in celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the nation’s reform and opening-up. On Monday morning they met with President Xi Jinping, followed by a lunch session with Vice-Premier Han Zheng. The central government holds Hong Kong and Macao in high regard as their residents have made significant contributions to the reform and opening-up process. As Shakespeare said “what’s past is prologue”, Hong Kong and Macao should contribute more to the country’s deepening reform and opening-up over the next 40 years.
What’s worth noting was a seminar on the two SARs’ participation in the reform and opening-up held on Sunday in Beijing, jointly organized by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. At the seminar, a keynote speech and a concluding speech were delivered by NDRC Chairman He Lifeng and his deputy Ning Jizhe, respectively. The forum’s topic and the two speeches showed that integrating Hong Kong and Macao’s development into the overall national development strategy is one of the strategic moves to deepen reform and further open up the country in the next four decades. In other words, integrating their own development into national development is the direction and objective for both SARs as they continue to implement “one country, two systems”. This notion was expounded in the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress report, which made it clear that the comprehensive and accurate implementation of “one country, two systems” is one of the key strategies of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
He Lifeng said the NDRC will focus on three aspects to advance the integration of Hong Kong and Macao into the nation’s overall development. With regard to the Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area development, the national planning agency will take five steps. The first step is to accelerate the establishment of an international science and innovation center and, second, to robustly promote the convenient and efficient flow of key production factors in order to facilitate investment, trade, personnel and vehicular flows, and customs clearance. A simpler and more efficient mode of supervision will be adopted to facilitate the flows of people, merchandise, capital and information, as well as to expand the mutual recognition of professional qualifications between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. The third measure is to accelerate the connectivity of infrastructure, followed by expediting the creation of major collaboration platforms and bringing the experimental role of major platforms into full play, including Qianhai in Shenzhen, Nansha in Guangzhou, and Hengqin in Zhuhai. Lastly, the NDRC will constantly improve the quality of lives and satisfaction of residents in the Bay Area by formulating more highly effective facilitating policies.
In his speech, Ning Jizhe noted the NDRC has been working in conjunction with relevant authorities and the governments of Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao in preparing a development plan for an international science and innovation center in the Bay Area. The commission will also collaborate with relevant authorities in improving the employment and education aspects for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents living on the mainland. It will study and formulate policies to ensure that Hong Kong and Macao residents living in Guangdong can enjoy the same social benefits as mainland residents in education, medical care, pension, housing and transportation, as well as in livelihood matters, including exploring the feasibility of linking the mainland’s social insurance system with those of Hong Kong and Macao.
As for Hong Kong, it’s particularly important to promote the convenient and efficient flow of key production factors and establish a link between the social insurance systems of the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.
Firstly, Hong Kong needs to catch up and adopt a more efficient boundary control system following the introduction of a joint boundary control system between Macao and Zhuhai. The colocation arrangement has been in force for almost two months at the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou Shenzh en-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. Its positive outcome proves that the arguments cited by the opposition camp against the adoption of a convenient boundary control system between Hong Kong and the mainland are completely untenable. If we look at the performance of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge since its opening on Oct 24, it’s evident that boundary control on the Hong Kong side has become a “bottleneck” for convenient immigration and customs clearance. Without such convenience, it’s impossible to facilitate the flows of people and vehicles. If boundary crossing is not efficient, liberalization of trade and investment will be impeded.
Second, as Hong Kong’s population ages, more and more senior citizens and their children realize they’re facing a growing financial burden concerning care for the elderly. The Hong Kong SAR Government will have to proactively address this problem. That the central authorities are now studying the feasibility of linking the social insurance systems of the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao is undoubtedly welcome news.
In short, the relevant departments of the central government are carrying out the instructions given by President Xi during the 19th CPC National Congress, stating that “our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao will share both the historic responsibility of national rejuvenation and the pride of a strong and prosperous China”. The HKSAR Government should proactively collaborate with the central authorities in fulfilling the president’s vision.
As for Hong Kong, it’s particularly important to promote the convenient and efficient flow of key production factors...