Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Xia Baolong speaks in Beijing during a seminar to study President Xi Jinping' s speech on July 18, 2022. (PHOTO / HKMAO)
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Monday that President Xi Jinping’s speech in Hong Kong on July 1 has bolstered confidence and showed the way for Hong Kong’s future development.
Xia also called on all to be participants in ensuring “patriots administering Hong Kong” in order to achieve long-term stability and prosperity.
Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said President Xi Jinping’s inspection tour of Hong Kong was to convey care, confidence and hope, which greatly boosted the confidence of the city and the international community in the “one country, two systems” principle and Hong Kong’s development prospects
Xia made the remarks during a seminar held simultaneously in Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao and hosted by the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, a Beijing-based think tank. Xia spoke from Beijing.
Xi delivered his important speech on July 1, as Hong Kong celebrated the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland. In the speech, Xi said “one country, two systems” is a good system, and will be adhered to in the long run.
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Xia said Xi’s inspection tour of Hong Kong was to convey care, confidence and hope, which greatly boosted the confidence of the city and the international community in the “one country, two systems” principle and Hong Kong’s development prospects.
Xi’s speech is a milestone for the development of “one country, two systems”, as it is based on deep historical logic and guides the way for Hong Kong’s important transition from chaos to prosperity, Xia reiterated.
The speech fully demonstrates the strong confidence and rock-solid will of the central government to unswervingly implement the “one country, two systems” policy, Xia said, adding that it is a historical necessity and the aspiration of the people.
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Xia called on the residents of Hong Kong and Macao to be the participants, implementers and beneficiary of ensuring patriots administering Hong Kong and Macao, and not merely bystanders.
In a bid to safeguard the two cities, all residents of the two special administrative regions must not lower their guard against a possible comeback of the anti-China troublemakers and external forces led by the US and the West, Xia said.
Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Xia Baolong speaks in Beijing during a seminar to study President Xi Jinping' s speech on July 18, 2022. (PHOTO / HKMAO)
To achieve greater success of “one country, two systems”, Xia urged the HKSAR government to proactively improve its governance, place the livelihood problems at first, and unite all patriotic forces to safeguard Hong Kong’s stability.
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Under the guidance of the spirit of Xi’s important speech and with the joint efforts of all sectors in Hong Kong, Hong Kong will certainly have greater achievements in the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xia said.
Officials of the Hong Kong SAR government, including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his top three secretaries and social dignitaries from various sectors in the city, attended the closed session.