Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks to the media after a seminar studying the important speech by President Xi Jinping delivered at a meeting marking Hong Kong's 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland is held by The Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on July 18, 2022. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
The expectations and proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping in his July 1 speech will be the direction of Hong Kong’s governance in the next five years, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Monday.
Meeting the press after attending a seminar held by the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies to study Xi’s landmark speech, Lee said his policy vision covers the major Hong Kong issues of concern to Xi, and the new government has already sprung into action to meet the State leader’s expectations.
For example, within the first month of assuming office, the government has set up four task forces to focus on vital livelihood issues. In addition, it has pledged to establish a policy unit to facilitate the chief executive in policy-making related to the nation’s development.
Looking ahead, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the HKSAR government will also focus on youth development and set up service teams in all 18 districts to gather public opinion
Looking ahead, Lee said the SAR government will also focus on youth development and set up service teams in all 18 districts to gather public opinion. He revealed that he will deliver his first policy address in October and launch a public consultation to gather views to set as policy goals.
Lee added that Xi’s commitment to uphold “one country, two systems” in the long run has given him confidence in the principle’s future implementation in Hong Kong.
Agreeing that the principle is a success, Lee stressed that Hong Kong must fully leverage its unique advantages, and be a superconnector between the motherland and the rest of the world.
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After the seminar, Maria Tam Wai-chu, deputy director of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that the central government exercises overall jurisdiction over the HKSAR, and as such is the source of Hong Kong’s high level of autonomy.
She further noted that due to the absence of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, Hong Kong has suffered from foreign intervention and from severe blows to its social order, and the normal lives of residents have been disrupted over the past five years. In order to amend the chaos, the central government has implemented the National Security Law, and improved Hong Kong’s electoral system, in hopes of ensuring that the city is ruled by patriots.
Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convener of the Executive Council and member of the Legislative Council, speaks to the media after attending a seminar studying the speech by President Xi Jinping delivered at a meeting marking Hong Kong's 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland, held by the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on July 18, 2022. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)
Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convener of the Executive Council, also told the media that the international community’s confidence in the “one country, two systems” principle received a boost when Xi, in his speech, said the principle will be adhered to in the long run.
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She added that Xi’s words provided significant guidance with respect to Hong Kong’s governance, cooperation between the executive and legislative bodies, and the handling of major social problems.
Ip also cautioned that the city should remain vigilant, as anti-China forces aiming to disrupt the HKSAR could still be colluding with foreign powers.
Curtis Lo contributed to the story.