Hong Kong, Get rid of the old and seek new development.
Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, June 6th Title: Hong Kong, Get rid of the old and seek new development.
Remarks: On July 1, 1997, the China Government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established. After its return to the motherland, Hong Kong has been incorporated into the national governance system and embarked on a broad road of complementary advantages and common development with the mainland of the motherland. The practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong has achieved great success. The extraordinary course of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland for 25 years fully proves that the implementation of "one country, two systems" is conducive to safeguarding the fundamental interests of the country, Hong Kong and the vast number of Hong Kong compatriots. Xinhua News Agency opened the column "25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland" on June 6th, focusing on the successful practice of the great concept of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong, and comprehensively showing the great achievements made by Hong Kong in the political, economic, people’s livelihood, social and cultural fields.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Xu Zheng Xin
Scenery on both sides of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Gangshe
In Hong Kong, which is about to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland, the sea breeze is still gentle and the street view is still amazing.
Looking back, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has survived many storms and challenges, but it still stands proudly. All kinds of tests have not shaken the foundation of "one country, two systems", adhered to the comprehensive and accurate implementation of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong’s development has returned to the right track, and the prospect of "one country, two systems" has become brighter.
Looking forward to the new journey, Hong Kong is sketching out the development path under the background of the new era, and is ready to move forward.
Stand at a new historical starting point
Twenty-five years later, the neon lights in Mong Kok are still colorful, the racetrack in Happy Valley is still exciting, and the banks and brokers in Central are still full of signs, and the years have not diminished Hong Kong’s peerless elegance.
In the 25 years since the reunification, with the support of the central authorities, Hong Kong has overcome many crises and still maintained its position as an international financial, shipping and trade center. Under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong’s financial system remains stable, capital flows freely, human resources are abundant, and the rule of law environment is good. Its unique position of relying on the motherland, facing the world and connecting the mainland and the world has become increasingly prominent. According to the data released by the World Bank, Hong Kong will rank third in the world in terms of ease of doing business in 2020; In terms of world governance indicators to measure the rule of law environment, Hong Kong scored only 69.85 before the reunification, but it has remained above 90 since 2003.
Over the past 25 years, Hong Kong has stood at the starting point of a new track, facing new broad opportunities.
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Xinhua News Agency reporter Liang Xushe
He first came to China to do business in 1979 and set up a medical device company in Hong Kong in 1994. In the eyes of Danish businessman Peter Stein, Hong Kong has a more unique charm. Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s development plan introduced in 2019 made him even more impressed by Hong Kong’s development opportunities backed by the mainland and facing the world. "This opportunity is absolutely unique."
In the eyes of Zheng Xiangling, Chairman of the Association of Provincial CPPCC Members in Hong Kong, opportunities come not only from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, but also from a series of national development plans such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Tenth Five-Year Plan. Together with her colleagues in the Hong Kong business community, Zheng Xiangling initiated the establishment of the Hong Kong "Belt and Road" General Chamber of Commerce in 2018 and served as the president of the board of directors.
Zheng Xiangling personally experienced the glorious moment of Hong Kong’s return and the profound changes in the past 25 years. She believes that the "Belt and Road" construction is consistent with the long-term strategic goal of Hong Kong’s economic development, which is conducive to accelerating Hong Kong’s development into a value chain management hub in Asia and even the world, and boosting Hong Kong’s economy to achieve new transformation.
Innovation cooperation between Hong Kong and the Mainland is in the ascendant. Wang Yang, vice president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is a few treasures: "Hong Kong and the Mainland have established a number of scientific research cooperation platforms. Only HKUST has four research bases in the Mainland, and there are countless cooperation projects such as scientific research cooperation with the Mainland, teacher-student exchanges and the transformation of research results."
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s integration has been accelerated, and the "hard connectivity" between Hong Kong and the mainland, such as road network and customs clearance, has been opened to all nodes, and the "one-hour living circle" between Hong Kong and mainland cities in Greater Bay Area has taken shape. The "soft connectivity" between rules and mechanisms has been deepened, and the service trade between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao has basically been liberalized.
Open a new situation of good governance and good governance
"Political chaos has opened up a new situation of good governance and good governance in Hong Kong." Liu Zhaojia, vice president of the National Hong Kong and Macao Research Association, commented.
In June 2019, there was a "storm of amending laws" in Hong Kong, and the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong encountered unprecedented challenges. Judging the situation, the central authorities decisively adopted a series of measures to address both the symptoms and the root causes, such as enacting Hong Kong’s national security law and revising and improving Hong Kong’s electoral system, to stop violence and control chaos, to promote the situation in Hong Kong from chaos to governance, and to return Hong Kong’s development to the right track, with a series of gratifying changes.
On September 21, 2021, a street publicity campaign was held on the streets of Hong Kong to "implement patriots to govern Hong Kong and promote good governance". Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Gangshe
In the recent election of the sixth Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao was elected with a high vote. This election is another successful practice of the new electoral system in Hong Kong after the election of the Election Committee in September last year and the election of the seventh Legislative Council in December last year, marking the full implementation of the new electoral system in Hong Kong. This significant progress, together with the in-depth implementation of Hong Kong’s national security law and the continuous promotion of bringing order out of chaos in key areas, has consolidated the good situation of Hong Kong from chaos to governance, promoted the unity and harmony of Hong Kong society and improved the business environment in Hong Kong.
"This is what everyone expects." Liu Zhaojia spoke highly of the political situation in Hong Kong after bringing order out of chaos, and believed that the patriotic and loving forces in Hong Kong were unprecedentedly united, and all sectors of society focused on the future development direction and deep-seated problems of Hong Kong.
A number of data show that international finance centre’s position has been effectively maintained and consolidated after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. Chen Maobo, Financial Secretary of the SAR Government, recently introduced that since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the amount of new shares raised in Hong Kong has exceeded HK$ 650 billion, an increase of more than 30% compared with the same period before the implementation; The average daily turnover of Hong Kong stocks exceeds HK$ 150 billion, which is nearly 60% higher than that in the 12 months before implementation. The total value of assets and wealth management business in Hong Kong reached HK$ 34.9 trillion by the end of 2020, an increase of 20% compared with that before implementation.
Hong Kong primary school student Zeng Xiangke brought his painting "Salute — — Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return, accompanied by my parents, I took a photo at Golden Bauhinia Square to welcome the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return. Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Xiaochu photo
A new starting point means a new challenge
The next five years will be a crucial period for Hong Kong to move from chaos to governance to governance and prosperity.
To prosper, we need to break through the traditional pattern and open a breakthrough in solving the difficulties and deep-seated contradictions in people’s livelihood such as housing and land, the gap between the rich and the poor, and youth development.
In a 28-square-meter public housing in Aberdeen (low-rent housing in Hong Kong), Ms. Li, who works hard for five people, is eager to move to a bigger house.
Twenty-five years after the reunification, there are still more than 200,000 people living in Hong Kong. Room, the per capita living area is less than 6 square meters. It takes six years for low-income residents to wait for public housing, and the housing difficulties they have faced since the first year of reunification have not been significantly improved.
"Hong Kong people hope that ‘ One country, two systems ’ Going far and steadily, on the other hand, I hope to get more happiness, security and acquisition. These are not enough by relying on the original philosophy and means of governance. " Wang Yuxian, Principal Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, said that Hong Kong’s development model is deficient. We should gradually guide it to develop in a healthier, fairer, more efficient and more sustainable direction.
To prosper, we need to face up to the stormy waves of the external environment, especially to prevent external forces from using Hong Kong to suppress the development of China.
Hong Kong’s financial security also involves national security. At a Hong Kong National Security Law Forum held not long ago, participants pointed out that Hong Kong, as a fully open international financial center, must step up efforts to promote the diversified and sustainable development of Hong Kong’s financial system.
Xing, but also need to mobilize the whole society to seize the opportunity to innovate.
"The evolution of the situation in Hong Kong has a profound background of the times." Yan Xiaojun, director of the China Institution Research Center of the University of Hong Kong, believes that the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong needs to adhere to integrity, innovation and progress in stability in the new historical stage.
On May 6, Li Jiachao took a group photo with members of the campaign office. Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Xiaoyu photo
Faced with many challenges, Lee Ka Chiu John, the sixth Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that he would firmly uphold the constitutional order established by the Constitution and the Basic Law, keep the core value of the rule of law, adhere to the bottom line thinking, resist threats and sabotage from inside and outside, safeguard the overall social stability of Hong Kong, and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. Establish a more committed, team-oriented and problem-solving government with transformational thinking.
"Today’s world has changed greatly, but the brave win. Hong Kong can’t be slow and can’t afford it. " Lee Ka Chiu John made it clear that we must have the spirit of change, and the government, all sectors of society and citizens must unite to open a new chapter for Hong Kong!