President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the swearing-in ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, July 1, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
HONG KONG – Various business chambers in Hong Kong said that President Xi Jinping’s “four musts” and “four proposals” for Hong Kong are essential in bolstering the overall competitiveness of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
These business chambers organized a seminar to study how the president’s speech can be applied to expedite the overall economic and social development of the city. Over 300 participants joined the seminar online and offline.
We support the SAR government to strengthen governance capabilities to tackle the deep-seated issues of land and housing, industry transformation, education and population aging.
Tan Tieniu, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR
Tan Tieniu, the deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, said Xi’s “four musts” and “four proposals” show the right direction for the implementation of “one country, two systems.”
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“We support the SAR government to strengthen governance capabilities to tackle the deep-seated issues of land and housing, industry transformation, education and population aging,” Tan said. “We will also unveil proposals concerning fostering developments in technology and innovation, and resuming quarantine-free travel with the Chinese mainland.”
The deputy director noted that the liaison office will promote Hong Kong to better integrate with national development, and proactively to connect with the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the building of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Yuen Mo, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said, “It is significant for Hong Kong to cement its unique position and niches when the central government pledges to maintain Hong Kong’s free and open business environment and expand the city’s smooth and convenient international linkages.”
“Hong Kong should proactively promote internationalization in breadth and depth. Though developing finance, participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, and trying to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, it can elevate the city’s international competitiveness and influence,” said Allen Shi Lop-tak, president of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong.
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“In addition, nurturing development in technology and innovation and reindustralization are the best penetration points for Hong Kong to connect with the 14th Five-Year Plan. The business sector should emphasize on these segments,” Shi stressed.
Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, standing committee member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Entrepreneur Union, added, “the SAR government and various sectors should liberate their minds to leverage the advantages bestowed to Hong Kong proactively under the ‘one country, two systems’, as the president vowed to maintain Hong Kong’s unique position and niches.”
Stewart Leung Chi-kin, chairman of the Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong’s executive committee, said, “private developers in the city will complement the SAR government in boosting land supply and building transportation infrastructure so that more public and private residential homes can be built to satisfy the dream of affordable housing of Hong Kong people.”
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said that the business sectors will cement the city’s role in connecting the mainland and the world, and foster business enterprises to participate in the building of the Greater Bay Area proactively. The business sector should also enhance youth development through providing jobs and training to young people so that an inclusive and caring society can be built.
The Federation of Hong Kong Industries said that Hong Kong has a role to play as an international shipping and trading hub through acting as a connector between the mainland market and overseas markets.