Hong Kong needs to align local development plans with national strategies, Zhang Xiaoming, Director of the Liaison Office of the China's Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), said Tuesday.
In his speech delivered at the "2016 Spring Festival Reception" hosted by the Liaison Office, Zhang said Hong Kong's development policy is better to be orchestrated with national development strategies, and takes advantage of the country's overall development.
Having the country to rely on and enjoying the huge market of the Chinese mainland constitutes the biggest advantage for Hong Kong, an advantage that Hong Kong is most envied by many countries and regions, he noted.
He said the Communist Party of China Central Committee has pointed out clearly in its proposals for the 13th Five-Year Plan that Hong Kong's position and function in national economic development and opening up shall be enhanced, Hong Kong's participation in the country's two-way opening up and in the implementation of "Belt and Road" initiative shall be supported, and Hong Kong's effort to strengthen its position as an offshore RMB business hub shall be backed.
The Hong Kong SAR government and people from all circles need to align social and economic development plans with national strategies, locate the linking point of "the country's need and Hong Kong's expertise," he said.
Zhang stressed that Hong Kong's development must always keep to the "One Country, Two Systems" principle. The "One Country, Two Systems" principle is something unprecedented. It is natural to face certain new situations, new problems, or even controversies and differences. To deal with these, the key is that we must always comprehensively and correctly understand the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, Zhang said.
He also noted that Hong Kong's development should be focused on enhancing economic competitiveness. Hong Kong wins an admirable position both nationally and internationally mainly because of the glorious economic achievements that Hong Kong generations had made through hard work and struggle in the past decades.
In today's world of increasingly fierce global and regional competition, whether Hong Kong will be able to maintain its advantages and continue to be honored also depends on its economic development, he added.
Zhang said concerted efforts should be made to support the SAR government, and pull together energy from all parts of society to concentrate on economic development and enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness.
