Hong Kong can develop further with deeper integration, liaison office chief says

Beijing’s top representative in Hong Kong has expressed confidence in the city’s ability to achieve greater development by further integrating into the country, while the chief executive has said authorities are moving “at full speed” to draw up the first five-year plan to align with the national blueprint.Speaking at a cultural gala marking the 29th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday evening, liaison office director Zhou Ji said he believed Hong Kong, with “the full care and support of the central government”, would be able to “seize strategic opportunities, better coordinate development and security, innovate and seek change, boost the economy, pursue development, promote reform and improve people’s livelihoods”.He also expressed confidence Hong Kong would successfully formulate its first five-year plan and further serve the overall development of the country.Liaison office director Zhou Ji speaks at the gala. The top Beijing official stressed the importance of long-term planning. Photo: Sun YeungZhou said Hong Kong had overcome successive challenges since its return to Chinese rule, including the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, Sars, the Covid-19 pandemic and social unrest. Hong Kong had become “one of the safest cities in the world” under the national security law, he added.