Plan offers historic opportunities to HK

HONG KONG: The nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) offers historic opportunities for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to further integrate into the country’s national development, officials and scholars said on Monday.
A high-level central government delegation has begun briefings in the city on the blueprint. In the morning, two-and-a-half hours of talks were held with government officials and representatives from different sectors. In the afternoon, a two-hour seminar was held for lawmakers.
The delegation comprises officials from departments including the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the People’s Bank of China.
Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, said in a speech that with the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong has a new round of historic development opportunities, which it must firmly seize.
Luo said the plan sets out a series of major requirements for Hong Kong’s development. They cover a wide spectrum, including politics, economics and culture.
Besides continuing to support Hong Kong enhancing its status as an international financial, transportation and trade center, the plan aims to strengthen the city’s advantages in financial and legal services, and promote service industries for high-end development.
For the first time, it also supports Hong Kong enhancing its status as an international aviation hub and developing as an international innovation and technology hub, a regional intellectual property trading center and a hub for the arts and cultural exchanges.
Luo said Hong Kong’s traditional advantages rely on its geographical connection to the Chinese mainland.
“The biggest opportunity for global development lies in China, and the biggest opportunity for Hong Kong’s development lies in the mainland,” he said.
– The Daily Mail-China Daily News exchange item