HK must seize opportunities and take positive actions amid changes, John Lee says

Chief Executive John Lee today (April 16) expressed his sincere gratitude to Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, for his care, guidance, and support for Hong Kong in his keynote speech at the "National Security Education Day" opening ceremony".

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Xia talked about the "five imperatives" for Hong Kong's development from governance to prosperity. He said that Hong Kong, with the escort of the national security laws, is now at the best time to strive for economic growth and development.

Lee thanked Xia for his concern for Hong Kong and had five points to share in the speech.

"The government should give priority to high-quality development, remove all difficulties and disruptions, and focus on the goal of development; the industrial and commercial sectors should follow the general trend of development, stimulate the vitality of innovation and creativity, and explore new industries and forms of business; all sectors of the Hong Kong community should be united and work together to build a better home for ourselves; the majority of young people should chasing their dreams, striving to write a wonderful life," according to Xia's speech. 

Lee mentioned that Hong Kong is going through a new period of economic development.

"In the past, Hong Kong has gone through different periods of economic restructuring, and Hong Kong people have always been able to seize the opportunities amid the changes to create miracles."

"Hong Kong people should recognize and face up to the changes in the general trend and, as in the past economic restructuring periods, not to blame others, but to be proactive, innovative, creative and responsive to changes," Lee noted.

Lee emphasized that active integration into the country's overall development would bring the most direct and numerous business opportunities to Hong Kong. He described our country, with a population of 1.4 billion, as the second largest economy in the world and a market that the rest of the world wants to enter.