President voices full support for Hong Kong SAR chief executive

The central government will fully support John Lee Ka-chiu and the new government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in exercising administration according to the law, President Xi Jinping told Lee on Friday.

At a meeting in Hong Kong after the inauguration of the new government, the president said he has full confidence in Lee, the new SAR government and the future of Hong Kong. He congratulated Lee on taking office as the sixth-term chief executive of the SAR.

The practice of "one country, two systems" and Hong Kong's development have come to a new historical starting point, and the vast number of local residents have great hopes for Lee and the new government, Xi said.

Xi voiced his hope that Lee will loyally fulfill his constitutional responsibility as the chief executive and lead the SAR government in comprehensively and faithfully translating into reality the "one country, two systems" principle and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR.

He called on Lee to unite people from all walks of life in maintaining stability and seeking prosperity and writing new chapters in the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong.

Lee said he appreciates the trust shown by President Xi and the central government. He said he knows well that he bears a considerable responsibility, and he will be fully dedicated to leading the SAR government in advancing its work, setting out fresh approaches and writing a new chapter of development. Accompanied by Lee, the president also met with officials in charge of the special administrative region's executive, legislative and judicial bodies.

Ambitions outlined

In his speech at the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term SAR government, Lee outlined his ambitions and plans to achieve greater development and security over the next five-year term.

He vowed to "safeguard the constitutional order of the Hong Kong SAR as defined under the Constitution and the Basic Law, to safeguard the country's sovereignty, national security, and development interests, and to ensure the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong".

The next five years will be critical for the city to achieve prosperity, and the SAR government will "press ahead to overcome challenges with a pragmatic and can-do attitude, and adopt a results-oriented approach to solve social problems", Lee said.

"Without making small steps forward, it is simply impossible to get to faraway places. Through perseverance we shall succeed,"Lee said.

Elaborating on his plans for future growth, Lee said the city "will strive to fully develop a range of emerging industries under the National 14th Five-Year Plan" while reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an international financial, transportation and trade center.

Emphasis will be put on the development of Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub, as well as leveraging and combining the respective strengths of Hong Kong, the mainland and other places, he added.

The city will make full use of its advantages and the industrial chains, talent and strengths of the Greater Bay Area to build itself into an international innovation and technology hub, he said.

"Development is the golden key to resolving social problems and improving people's livelihoods," he said, adding that the new government will tackle the problem of land and housing, set up working groups to enhance action and coordination, and increase the housing supply.

Recalling his campaign slogan of "Starting a New Chapter for Hong Kong Together", Lee vowed to work for the concerted efforts of the SAR government, the community and individuals to ensure they "will be working with one heart and will become even stronger to overcome all the difficulties ahead".

In terms of security, he said the SAR"will ensure that there are adequate preventive and protective capabilities to counter threats such as those against national security, financial security, food and health security, and supply security".