Beijing’s top man on Hong Kong affairs has urged all sectors in the city to take a determined and proactive approach to transforming the economy, by completing one task after another to keep the city’s “golden brand” polished.
Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said the city was facing changes externally and internally, and therefore needed to recognise, respond to and comprehend the transformation for better development.
Xia conveyed the tasks and messages to Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Tuesday in Beijing after the end of the third plenary session for the party’s 20th Central Committee last week.
Chan is the first Hong Kong government official Xia has met after the end of the key policy meeting.
“It is hoped that the Hong Kong government and all sectors of society will deeply grasp and appreciate the spirit of the third plenum and seize the opportunities, be determined to reform, and take the initiative to accelerate Hong Kong’s reform and development,” Xia said.
Xia added the central government would support Hong Kong in full on consolidating and upgrading its advantages as global hubs of financial services, shipping, trade, and skilled talent.
In addition, Hong Kong will deepen cooperation with the Greater Bay Area, as well as play a better role in facilitating the country’s opening up to the world, he said.
“We must implement the spirit of the third plenum with solid work, cope with the tasks one by one and constantly police Hong Kong’s golden brands,” Xia said.
During the third plenary meeting, the party adopted a resolution to further deepen reform towards promoting high-quality development to build China into a modern socialist country.