HK’s integration into nation’s development has multiple meanings
Whenever the topic of easier market access for Hong Kong professionals or encouraging Hong Kong residents to pursue career opportunities or education there is mentioned, we tend to only think of one-way traffic from Hong Kong to the mainland. That is not the whole picture.
Recent discussions surrounding the development of Hong Kong have centered on “integrating into the overall development strategy of the country”, which has become a catchphrase since Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, reiterated in his report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC that the central government “supports Hong Kong and Macao in integrating their own development into the overall development strategy of the country”. However, not all of us fully understand the true meaning of catchy phrases like this one.
Previously, discussion was focused on leveraging Hong Kong’s advantages to meet the country’s needs; the scope then expanded to include how Hong Kong could benefit from the country’s strengths, which, in other words, entails how Hong Kong can seize the opportunities brought about by national development and expand its own development space. Specifically, Hong Kong should primarily concentrate on facilitating professional services to access the mainland market through the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, starting with mutual recognition of professional qualifications so as to reduce entry hurdles to the mainland market. Recently, Guangdong and Hong Kong made a small breakthrough, which, as one of the initiatives to leverage strategic opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, enhances the Hong Kong service sector’s access to the mainland through the introduction of a “pilot demonstration” approach, making it easier for professionals from Hong Kong.
While previous practices have shown positive results, they also generated a “myth”. Whenever the topic of easier market access for Hong Kong professionals or encouraging Hong Kong residents to pursue career opportunities or education there is mentioned, we tend to only think of one-way traffic from Hong Kong to the mainland. That is not the whole picture, but how can we break from that mindset? I can think of at least three approaches.
Firstly, we must have in our mind a big picture of what Hong Kong is integrating its own development into. “The overall development strategy of the country” refers not only to linking Hong Kong with the mainland geographically, but also, in a broader sense, to aligning Hong Kong’s development with the national development strategy. Therefore, we must be wellinformed of China’s development strategy by, for instance, studying the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 to brush up on our knowledge of the country’s short- to intermediateterm development strategy. With this understanding achieved, no matter where Hong Kong residents choose to pursue their personal development goals, as long as their career strategy is aligned with the national development plan, they will be seen as “integrated into the overall development strategy of the country”.
Secondly, we ought to fully appreciate, as well as strengthen, our advantages and positioning, which will provide a strong foundation for the integration to take place. Consider the country as a big team with many different parts working together toward a common goal. If Hong Kong wishes to participate in this development initiative, it must understand complementary development with its mainland counterparts and know what its own competitive and comparative advantages are, so as to keep them up to date and growing. In particular, “one country, two systems”, the rule of law, finance and international connections are Hong Kong’s unique strengths. They will be key parameters in determining how effectively Hong Kong’s own development is being integrated into the overall development strategy of the country.
The final step is to take actions to integrate our own development into the overall development strategy of the country. Although Hong Kong’s traditional foreign trade and shipping industries are predominantly based here, they can be upgraded along their value chain if they align their strategy with the national development strategy. Hong Kong can also exploit its experience in “international influence” and exchanges between the Chinese culture and its foreign counterparts. It should be useful to the country’s overall development strategy even though it mainly concerns matters of foreign relations.
When it comes to Hong Kong residents seeking career opportunities on the mainland, there are more factors and practical considerations than how convenient their new environment is. If discussions of this subject are confined to individual needs, we may come to a premature conclusion that “Hong Kong has not been included”. That idea might discourage Hong Kong residents from joining national development on the mainland. Therefore, we should think outside the box and see the bigger picture of the overall development strategy of the country in relation to our personal lives.