October 20, 2022
HONG KONG – Central government authorities in charge of Hong Kong and Macao affairs on Wednesday said they see a “clear direction and vigorous action plan” in the maiden Policy Address of Hong Kong’s top leader John Lee Ka-chiu.
In a statement after the chief executive unveiled his much-awaited blueprint on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said the Policy Address, based on the four hopes and four expectations laid down by President Xi Jinping in his July 1 speech, has brought forward a raft of innovative and designated initiatives in areas such as improving governance, propelling development, improving livelihoods, seeking development for youths, and telling Hong Kong stories well.
Calling on the Hong Kong community to stay united, the spokesperson said the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council is confident that the current-term HKSAR government will deliver its pledges to improved governance while the community will back its law-based governance to create better lives for Hong Kong people
The spokesperson said Lee’s Policy Address, which provides a comprehensive and accurate implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, is a clearly-written blueprint, with clear direction and vigorous action.
Calling on the Hong Kong community to stay united, the spokesperson said the Office is confident that the current-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will deliver its pledges to improved governance while the community will back its law-based governance to create better lives for Hong Kong people.
In another statement, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region welcomed the new policy blueprint, saying it will continue to render full support to the chief executive and the SAR government to govern in accordance with the law, set the right path when forging ahead, and integrate into the nation’s development to play a bigger role in the country’s great rejuvenation.
The spokesperson said the Policy Address, which is the first of the current-term government, has rolled out a slew of innovative initiatives to help the city integrate into the nation’s development by actively engaging itself in national policies such as the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. This will greatly boost the city’s unique advantages and provide new momentum to the city, the Office said.
Internally, the report also unveiled a series of measures to tackle the most-concerning issues for residents, including housing, medical, elderly care and youth development to effectively address the public’s needs, it said.
The Office noted that the SAR government had held 34 public consultations and opened an online platform to canvas the public’s opinions. This fully demonstrates that the report is a representation of the public’s expectations and the blueprint for administration, the statement read.