This aerial photo taken on Sept 27, 2020 shows the science and technology park along the bank of the Dasha River in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province. Hong Kong delegates to the nation’s upcoming “two sessions” are actively seeking promising ways to further release the city’s potential in national blueprints and enable the younger generation in the city to shine on the broader stage of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Hong Kong delegates to the nation’s upcoming “two sessions” are actively seeking promising ways to further release the city’s potential in national blueprints and enable the younger generation in the city to shine on the broader stage of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing focus on China's major socioeconomic achievements over the past year and the next-stage development blueprint. The 14th CPPCC National Committee session will kick off on March 4 and the 14th NPC session will begin on March 5.
Business leader Andrew Yao Cho-fai was re-elected as the NPC deputy this year. Yao, who used to serve as chairman of Hong Kong United Youth Association, said he will bring some concrete motions to Beijing on how to help Hong Kong youngsters seek more development chances in the national development
Business leader Andrew Yao Cho-fai was re-elected as the NPC deputy this year. Yao, who used to serve as chairman of Hong Kong United Youth Association, said he will bring some concrete motions to Beijing on how to help Hong Kong youngsters seek more development chances in the national development.
As normal cross-border travel has been fully resumed, he hopes to restart the summer exchange program enabling Hong Kong students to do internships at mainland companies and organizations, which has been conducted for 15 years but was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In a recent trip to Shanghai, Yao observed that new energy vehicles are highly popular there and that local residents showed a strong interest in the new brands. He hopes to bring some new energy vehicles designed by domestic brands to Hong Kong and help local young people better understand the mainland’s rapid development in unmanned driving and new energy technology. He believes that doing so would be the best way to cultivate the young people’s national pride.
In his view, the government has already done a lot to help Hong Kong youngsters integrate into the Greater Bay Area, and that the many activities launched by the government have become more professional and well-organized. He suggested that more Hong Kong organizations should engage, and encouraged young people to embrace the latest opportunities in the north and prudently consider why they need to seek development there.
Lawmaker Johnny Ng Kit-chong told a press conference on Tuesday that he will submit various proposals on livelihood issues, industry development and economic revival, to enable Hong Kong to further leverage the city’s unique advantages in national blueprints.
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With mature supervision and favorable policies in digital finance, Hong Kong can offer great facilitation to the Greater Bay Area’s developments in metaverse and other "Web 3.0" technologies.
Given its latest developments in innovation and technology, the city also has a role to play in the mainland’s revitalization of rural areas and the promotion of traditional Chinese medicine to the world.
In the post-pandemic era, he also suggested Hong Kong brands should attach greater importance to the vast mainland market, which may bring greater rewards and also serve mainland people’s diverse needs.
Additionally, the Hong Kong government can strengthen collaboration with the mainland to channel more support for the development of local youth, and attract more overseas talents to the country, Ng said.
Also attending the press conference, another CPPCC National Committee member, So Cheung-wing, said his proposal focuses on economic development, adding that Hong Kong should further strengthen its links with other cities in the Greater Bay Area to accelerate integration.
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He continued that the Hong Kong government should better leverage the city’s strength as a leading offshore RMB trading center and launch more preferential policies to further enhance its status as an international financial hub.
Lawmaker Reverend Peter Koon Ho-ming, who was recently elected to be a CPPCC National Committee member for the first time, cares most about social welfare policies. He believes some policies and conditions for the elderly on the mainland are superior to those of Hong Kong, and plans to put forward proposals that will encourage and facilitate more Hong Kong residents to enjoy post-retirement lives in mainland cities.