March 13, 2023
HONG KONG – Hong Kong deputies to the nation’s top legislature on Saturday painted a rosy picture of the country’s development in the next decade under the leadership of the newly elected State leaders, as well as the implementation of “one country, two systems” in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Speaking at an online media briefing, head of the Hong Kong delegation to the National People’s Congress, Ma Fung-kwok, noted that many State leaders were elected unanimously, reflecting the nation’s cohesion.
He said the country has made tremendous achievements in the past decade under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, who was unanimously reelected as State president and chairman of the Central Military Commission at the ongoing first session of the 14th NPC on Friday.
Xi, who has shown extensive care for the HKSAR’s development and attended the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland last year, has enjoyed the wide support of Hong Kong residents and all people in the country, Ma said. Xi’s reelection as CMC chairman can also better protect the country’s national security, he said.
Two Hong Kong deputies to the NPC talk to the media, Mar 11, 2023. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Ma is optimistic about the nation’s development, as well as that of Hong Kong under the leadership of the newly-elected leaders. For Hong Kong, it should strive to better implement “one country, two systems” and leverage its strengths to contribute to national development, he said.
Friday’s third plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC also saw 2,952 NPC deputies elect Zhao Leji as chairman of the 14th NPC Standing Committee and Han Zheng as State vice-president, as well as 14 vice-chairpersons and a secretary-general of the 14th NPC Standing Committee.
Li Qiang was endorsed on Saturday as premier of the State Council at the fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC. Along with Li, a 159-strong NPC Standing Committee was chosen, with Starry Lee Wai-king, who chairs the HKSAR’s biggest political party, picked as the sole Hong Kong member in the committee.
Hong Kong lawmaker Starry Lee attends the NPC first session’s fourth plenary meeting on Mar 11, 2023. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Another national legislator Stanley Ng Chau-pei, also a Hong Kong lawmaker, said he was honored to be part of the nation’s new journey, which showed that the whole-process people’s democracy is getting more mature, enabling it to improve its work, supervise and take part in policymaking.
The fact that the State leaders have been elected with high votes shows that the country is united and committed to development, and Hong Kong hopes to make more contributions under the nation’s guidance, Ng said.
Two NPC deputies from Hong Kong pose for a photo in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing China, Mar 11, 2023. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Brave Chan Yung, another Hong Kong NPC deputy, said he was excited to be present when Xi was reelected with the full support of the deputies.
“This has sent a loud message to those attempting to pressure us that our country is standing as one,” he said.
Hong Kong has always pulled at the heartstrings of Xi and the central government, leading to the implementation of the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the city’s transformation from chaos to stability, Chan said.
He pledged to actively convey Xi’s expectations, promote the essence of the two sessions and the National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in October on his return to Hong Kong, to help unite the local community, revive the economy and further integrate the SAR into the nation’s development.