Central govt gives HK a leg up coping with challenges

That the central government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region launched a series of initiatives following the first session of the 14th National People's Congress and the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference indicates the central government is leading Hong Kong in coping with the accelerating once-in-a-century paradigm shift in global governance.

One of the highlights of the two sessions was the approval of the plan on reforming Party and State institutions, which has come under the spotlight of the world.

The part that is most relevant to Hong Kong is the creation of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, which serves at least three purposes as I see it.

First, it makes clear that the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions practice "one country, two systems" under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee. This is particularly important for Hong Kong, not least because some quarters of the Hong Kong community, including some members in the traditional pro-establishment camp, pay only lip service to the CPC or covertly disapprove of it.

Second, it will strengthen the central authorities' decision-making and execution process on the special administrative regions' affairs. The work office will provide comprehensive, in-depth, objective research reports on Hong Kong and Macao, along with policy proposals for the top leadership to make timely and informed decisions. It will also strengthen the execution and implementation of the policies adopted by the top leadership on Hong Kong and Macao affairs by coordinating the work of the top Party leadership, various departments of the State Council, and Guangdong province.

Third, it will streamline the governance structure for Hong Kong and Macao affairs. The work office is an institution of higher authority vis-a-vis the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. Therefore, the working relationship between the two Liaison Offices in Hong Kong and Macao and their superior institutions are more clearly defined.

With the top Party leadership taking action to strengthen its leadership and supervision over the work on Hong Kong and Macao affairs, the HKSAR government and the central authorities' agencies in the HKSAR have responded positively.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu recently announced the establishment of the Chief Executive's Council of Advisers, which consists of 34 distinguished leaders from the political and business circles to advise the SAR government on the areas of high-quality and sustainable economic development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and regional and global cooperation.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung led a delegation of high-ranking judicial officers to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai from March 20 to 22. During their trip, Cheung met with the vice-president of the Supreme People's Court, Yang Wanming; and there were professional exchanges between members of the delegation and mainland judges and judicial officers on judicial issues.

As the chief justice organized the mainland trip of judicial officers, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR also organized a delegation to visit Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Dongguan in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from March 19 to 23 to explore the latest developments in the region. Led by Commissioner Liu Guangyuan, the 120-member delegation included consuls general and representatives from foreign chambers of commerce, multinational corporations, and financial institutions operating in Hong Kong. It was reported that the consuls general of Russia, Australia, Turkiye and Israel, as well as the head of the European Union Office in Hong Kong and Macao and the British deputy consul general, were among the delegates. The presence of Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah signals enhanced coordination between the HKSAR government and the central government's agencies in Hong Kong.

In contrast, the US consul general and representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce were conspicuously absent from the delegation, indicating that Washington's growing efforts to contain China is taking a toll on Hong Kong. This makes it all the more imperative for Hong Kong to strengthen cooperation and economic ties with its regional and global partners.

Speaking to members of the 14th CPPCC National Committee on March 6, President Xi Jinping emphasized that China's development is running into a rapidly changing external environment full of unpredictability and challenges. In particular, the scale of containment, besiegement, and suppression by the US-led West is presenting unprecedented challenges to China's development. He warned the Chinese people of the increasing and worsening risks and challenges in the years to come.

In the face of worsening geopolitics and an external environment fraught with challenges, the central authorities are rightly steering Hong Kong toward a quicker integration into the Greater Bay Area.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.