STRING OF FAVOURABLE POLICIES IN THE PIPELINE TO BOOST CITY
HKMAO chief Xia Baolong urges Hong Kong to sharpen its competitive edge and ‘use new thinking’
Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has said a string of favourable policies are in the pipeline for the city and he urged the financial hub to sharpen its competitive edge in a changing environment after national security loopholes were plugged by new legislation.
Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, yesterday added that the “one country, two systems” governing principle “will not need to change” and underlined the need for the city to reinforce its strengths.
“The central government fully supports Hong Kong in its advance from stability to prosperity,” Xia said in a video address for National Security Education Day. “More measures to support and benefit Hong Kong are coming one after another.”
He added the legislature’s enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance last month marked a new starting point for the city.
Xia said the city was now better equipped to “identify thieves and protect friends”, which provided a more predictable environment for overseas investors.
He added top financial institutions and business elites had cast votes of confidence in the city with their participation in high-powered events held since the domestic national security law, mandated under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, came into force.
“Hong Kong is still the world’s best place for doing business,” Xia said. “It’s the best place to start a business, make money and realise dreams. It is like the sun in the universe where no dark clouds can ever block its rays. Hong Kong’s prosperity cannot be denounced by a few articles or a few noises.
“Let those who think poorly of Hong Kong lament. Hong Kong is destined to be brilliant tomorrow.”
Xia said the nation offered solid backing for Hong Kong with its resilient economy and Beijing’s policy support. But he added the city’s path to prosperity involved major changes in the external environment and that people had to roll up their sleeves and adapt to the changing landscape.
Xia said Hong Kong had to sharpen its international competitiveness by consolidating and elevating the advantages conferred by the one country, two systems principle. He added that the city’s traditional advantages should not remain “static” and maintenance of the city’s “golden brand” required constant effort.
“The advance from stability to prosperity is essentially a path for innovation and changes,” he said. “We cannot look at today’s new situation with yesterday’s old eyes. We cannot use yesterday’s old thinking to solve today’s new problems.
“We need to unite and look ahead to solve the problems we face using new thinking, new methods and new routes. [We should] dare to say new things that have not been said by our predecessors and dare to do things that have never been done before to make constant breakthroughs.”
Xia underlined his confidence in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and the government’s ability to make high-quality economic development their top priority and stay committed to objectives that would drive the city’s prosperity with “more powerful measures”.
He added businesses, the public and young people also had their parts to play in the exploration of new opportunities, the creation of social unity and “chasing dreams” and emphasised the importance of continued integration into the Greater Bay Area.
The bay area is Beijing’s plan to make Hong Kong, Macau and nine mainland cities into an economic powerhouse.
“We firmly believe that the wheels of the new era train called Hong Kong will surely roll forward unstoppably,” Xia said.
Zheng Yanxiong, the director of the central government’s liaison office in the city, who also spoke at the event, said the 2020 Beijing-imposed national security law and the domestic national security legislation created “dual laws, dual mechanisms” that involved Beijing’s authority and Hong Kong’s responsibility.
Zheng said the dual laws allowed Hong Kong to develop its economy and improve people’s livelihoods.
He added the city also had to continue to counter attempts to discredit it by external forces.
“Lately there have been ridiculous claims that Hong Kong is over, that there was no hope of recovery, and it is in ruins and an isolated island,” Zheng said. “These have been refuted by all major Hong Kong media outlets, which articulate the narrative of a bright Hong Kong economy. This is excellent.”
Lee said the city had to remain on the alert for threats in his speech at the event, which also marked the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s “holistic approach” to national security, which spanned 20 areas, from politics to biosecurity.
“The threat of hostile forces will continue [as they] wait for a chance to attack,” Lee warned. “Just like viruses, they will not stop attacking us just because we have been vaccinated.
“With the protection of national security laws, activities that endanger national security will continue to threaten us like viruses, so we cannot forget about the pain just because our wounds have healed.”
Lee added the city authorities would continue to explain the domestic national security law to the public.
Starry Lee Wai-king, Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the nation’s top legislative body, said one example of new thinking was how Hong Kong drew tourists in the face of changing spending patterns and expectations.
“I think the key is that Hong Kong as a whole must deploy and adapt to these new expectations as soon as possible,” she said.
Yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of the unveiling by President Xi Jinping of a holistic approach to protect the country’s safety. It was also the first National Security Education Day since Hong Kong finally passed a home-grown national security law. The city has come a long way to reach this turning point for better development. In addition to defending “one country” and staying vigilant to external and internal threats, it must strive to adapt and innovate for better economic and social achievements under “two systems”.
The new direction came as Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, shed light on the way forward in a video address marking the occasion.
Noting the passage of the Article 23 legislation as opening up “a new era to go all out for the economy”, the top official urged Hong Kong to maximise the dividends of the “one country, two systems” formula and to fully unleash its advantages. There would also be more support for the city.
The remarks are especially relevant as new opportunities arise. As “one country” has been fortified, it will, hopefully, create more room for development under the “two systems”. This includes sharpening our existing edges and further polishing the city’s “golden brand”, while seeking and embracing changes.
“We cannot use the old mindset from yesterday to solve today’s new problems. We need to use new mindsets, new solutions and dare to say words that have not been said by predecessors,” Xia said.
Describing the Article 23 legislation and the Beijing-imposed national security law as “dual law, dual mechanism”, Beijing’s liaison office chief Zheng Yanxiong said the double protection would need to be further strengthened by a lot of work.
Dong Jingwei, head of the central government’s Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, also said preserving national security would be a constant work in progress and there would be no end to such efforts. That means the city government must remain vigilant to potential threats amid rising geopolitical tensions and the changing global environment.
Beijing’s assessment of the city’s future remains upbeat, thanks to its belief that the Chinese economy is in good shape. Now that the “sophisticated security system” is in place, it is to be hoped there will be more room for developing our strengths under the “two systems”.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu yesterday pledged to create a more favourable business environment to attract talent and companies, while also staging more mega events and pursuing high-quality development. The onus is now on the government to seize the momentum for better development and prove that
Hong Kong will remain a great place in which to do business and live.