HK urged to better integrate with nation

HONG KONG - Hong Kong should proactively integrate with the nation's development because it is the motherland's strong backing that assures the SAR's long-term prosperity and stability, community leaders said.

Their remarks came after Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, called on the city to make full use of its greatest advantage — the "one country, two systems" principle — and seize the opportunities created by the reform and opening-up of the mainland, especially the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Luo made his comments on Wednesday at a celebration marking the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which was on Thursday. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor struck a similar note in her keynote speech at a celebration gala on Thursday.

Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said it is crucial for Hong Kong to embrace national development as certain Western countries increasingly embrace "deglobalization", "populism" and "Sinophobia". With so many sanctions imposed against Hong Kong, it is clear that it must rely on the secure backing of the motherland, Lau said.

The Bay Area can open up many opportunities for Hong Kong to diversify its stagnant industrial structure, Lau said.

"For decades, we have been overreliant on the finance and real estate industries," Lau said. "With the Bay Area initiative, we can now explore new opportunities in the innovation sector."

Witman Hung Wai-man, principal liaison officer for Hong Kong at the Shenzhen Qianhai Authority, said it is a must for the city to further integrate into the Bay Area, as it is a key to resolving Hong Kong society's long-standing problems, such as the widening wealth gap and industry concentration.

Hung, who is also a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress and a longtime information and communications technology professional, said such profound problems cannot be tackled by simple resource reallocation. In order to uproot these issues, Hung said, Hong Kong should navigate toward a road of continuous development, to find a flexible set of solutions.

Hung is also optimistic about the prospects of the Bay Area's technological innovation industries. "There is a massive market there, which is a huge opportunity for the local science and engineering talents. It is also beneficial to revitalize our city's industrial structure," he said.

Lo Sui-on, director and honorary chairman of China Travel Service (Hong Kong), said Hong Kong has faced tremendous external and internal challenges recently, but he is full of hope for its future, as it has the resolute backing of the great motherland and the staunch support of the central government.

"Integrating into the Bay Area's development is the best way for Hong Kong to steer its economy and business sectors toward the 'dual circulation' mode of growth," said Lo.

HK's 'dual circulation'

Lo added that Hong Kong can leverage the Bay Area's advantages and market to accelerate the SAR's "internal circulation" to boost domestic demand. It can then further utilize such advantages as the "one country, two systems" principle, common-law jurisdiction, exceptional international reputation and professionals, to find opportunities across the globe and speed up the local economy's "external circulation".

Wong Yuk-shan, president of the Open University of Hong Kong, said it is vital for Hong Kong's youth to explore their potential in the Bay Area and in other mainland cities.

"Appreciation of Chinese history and culture, and an understanding of our motherland's contemporary conditions are of paramount importance to Hong Kong's young people, and they should be cultivated to learn this knowledge well, especially as they may be building their careers on the mainland in the near future," Wong said.

He added that it is also crucial to strengthen civil servants' understanding of the Basic Law and the nation's Constitution.

As of Friday, over 1 million Hong Kong residents had joined online National Day celebration events held by the Organizing Committee of Compatriots in Hong Kong in Celebration of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The virtual events included raising the nation's flag and playing the national anthem on home computers, flying online sky lanterns and sending wishes to the motherland and families of the participants.