The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, held the closing meeting of its fourth session on Thursday (March 12). The meeting voted to adopt resolutions on the Government Work Report, as well as on the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. These decisions map out a development blueprint for both the country and Hong Kong over the next five years.
In the period ahead, all sectors of society should not only study and thoroughly implement the spirit of the National Two Sessions but also support the HKSAR Government, the Legislative Council, and other institutions in better formulating Hong Kong's first five-year plan. Such a plan should proactively align with the national 15th Five-Year agenda so that Hong Kong can integrate into and serve the overall national development strategy—and, in doing so, contribute to the tremendous rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
At this year's National Two Sessions, the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan was undoubtedly a major focal point. The plan continues to support Hong Kong in unswervingly implementing the principle of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy. It also underscores the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong," calls for enhancing the effectiveness of governance in accordance with the law, and supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial, shipping, and trade center, as well as an international aviation hub.
It is also worth noting that the outline supports Hong Kong in developing into an international innovation and technology center, deepening the development of international legal and dispute resolution services, advancing its role as a regional intellectual property trading center, promoting the establishment of a center for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and other countries, and accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis.
Proactively integrating into and serving the national development strategy is not only the responsibility of the HKSAR Government or the Legislative Council. It is also a responsibility shared by all sectors of society and stakeholders. Beyond learning and implementing the Two Sessions spirit, Hong Kong must translate that spirit into concrete action and seize the opportunities arising from national development and the 15th Five-Year Plan.
As the governing authority of the HKSAR, once the Ggovernmenthas fully grasped the spirit of the Two Sessions and the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, it should formulate a Hong Kong five-year plan that matches local realities and is aligned with the national plan. In addition to ensuring policy alignment, the Ggovernmentshould develop an implementable plan, mmeasurable,and able to deliver visible results—so that Hong Kong can achieve better development during this critical period and better serve the national development strategy.
As part of Hong Kong's governance structure, the Legislative Council should, on the one hand, support the Government's administration and, on the other hand, reflect public views and relay them to the HKSAR Government. In the process of formulating Hong Kong's five-year plan, LegCo should offer suggestions and proposals so that the Government can produce a plan that is more practical and more closely aligned with the needs of the public.
Hong Kong's future planning and development concerns everyone in society—including the business community, professional sectors, and the service industries—and it also relates to the environment in which the next generation will grow up and develop. Therefore, in addition to supporting the Government's administration, all sectors and members of the public should seek to understand the National Two Sessions, the 15th Five-Year Plan, and Hong Kong's own five-year plan, and actively express their views so that society can unite in purpose and push Hong Kong's development to new heights.
With the conclusion of the National Two Sessions, representatives and members of the national bodies from Hong Kong, together with the HKSAR Government, will move on to explain and promote the Two Sessions spirit among different sectors of society. We believe this is also an opportune time for rational discussion and consensus-building so that the community can offer the government suggestions that are beneficial to Hong Kong's long-term development in relation to its own five-year plan.
Throughout these discussions, all sectors should keep in mind that Hong Kong's first five-year plan concerns not only Hong Kong's development but also how Hong Kong can better serve the country. The nation has consistently given full support to Hong Kong in developing its economy and improving people's livelihoods. Hong Kong, in turn, should make full use of its unique advantages to contribute to the country's modernization drive and help advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
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