A screengrab taken from the Facebook livestreaming of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), shows Hong Kong deputies to the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) Nancy Ip Yuk-yu (from left), Ma Fung-kwok and Brave Chan Yung attending an online media briefing in Beijing, March 7, 2023. (PHOTO / OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE OF DAB)
Senior Chinese leader Zhao Leji on Tuesday called on Hong Kong deputies to the nation’s top legislature to take the lead in firmly safeguarding national security and opposing any acts harming “one country, two systems”, and to actively dovetail the city’s development with the nation’s development strategies and support law-based governance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.
Zhao, who is an executive chairperson of the presidium for the first session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made his expectations known to the Hong Kong deputies to the 14th NPC when he attended the Hong Kong delegation’s group discussion in Beijing.
Zhao also called on the deputies to actively promote the essence of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which was held last October.
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Referring to Zhao’s remarks, head of the Hong Kong delegation to the NPC Ma Fung-kwok said at an online media briefing on Tuesday that the next five years will be critical for Hong Kong’s development, and Hong Kong is urged to uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, and forge ahead with unity.
Hong Kong, which has a wealth of scientific research resources and talents, should actively undertake more national-level tasks and help the nation make major groundbreaking achievements in core science and technology, Ip Yuk-yu added
Ma said Zhao, who said Hong Kong’s transition from chaos to order and prosperity is a highlight of the nation’s achievements in the past five years, also acknowledged the HKSAR government’s breakthrough contribution.
The central government, when dealing with issues relating to Hong Kong, will take into consideration Hong Kong’s long-term well-being, stability and prosperity and the well-being of its people, as well as the nation’s strategic development, Zhao reportedly said.
Ma believes that by asking the city to “uphold fundamental principles and break new ground”, Zhao was hoping that the city will fully implement “one country, two systems”, and solve the deep-seated problems in governance and development.
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Agreeing with Ma’s interpretation, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, also a Hong Kong deputy to the NPC, said the meaning of "upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground", which Zhao emphasized at the meeting, is that Hong Kong should leverage its unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, and create new momentum and strengths to make breakthroughs in its development.
Ip, who is also a renowned neuroscientist, said a new technological revolution and industrial transformation is rapidly underway, which has higher requirements of the country's innovation capability.
An undated file photo shows a general view of Hong Kong Science Park, in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / VCG)
Hong Kong, which has a wealth of scientific research resources and talents, should actively undertake more national-level tasks and help the nation make major groundbreaking achievements in core science and technology, Ip added.
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Responding to Zhao's call to channel the strengths of patriotic forces, Brave Chan Yung, a Hong Kong deputy to the NPC, cautioned against the resurgence of ill-intentioned foreign forces, which have been stoking up rumors and making false accusations to smear and sabotage “one country, two systems”.
Another SAR deputy to the NPC, Nick Chan Hiu-fung, said Hong Kong’s development has always been intertwined with that of the nation’s, and Hong Kong should make full use of its unique advantages produced by “one country, two systems” to actively integrate itself into the nation’s development.
He said he will host several events to share the essence of the two sessions with other deputies when they return to the city.
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Head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Xia Baolong and Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Zheng Yanxiong also attended the discussion.
William Xu also contributed to the story.