Jia calls for enhancing HK compatriots' sense of belonging

BEIJING - China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Wednesday called for enhancing the people of Hong Kong's sense of identity and belonging as well as their patriotic sentiment toward Hong Kong and China.

Jia, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with a visiting delegation of the Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations (FHKCCC) at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

The FHKCCC, an influential society established in 2001, encompasses about 30 Hong Kong-based organizations related to the descendants of people from Chaozhou, Guangdong province. It has thousands of corporate members and more than 10,000 individual members, including Hong Kong business magnate Li Ka-shing.

Jia said the central government will "resolutely implement the basic guideline and policies toward Hong Kong, fully support its chief executive and the special administrative region's government and maintain its lasting prosperity and stability."

"One country, two systems" is the best institutional arrangement for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and promoting the mechanism is in line with the interests of Hong Kong compatriots and the wishes and fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, said Jia, also chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, the country's political advisory body.

Jia said he hopes federation members and Chaozhou descendants will contribute more to the nation, actively participate in Hong Kong's social and political affairs, promote Chinese culture and enhance the cohesion of the Chiu Chow Community.

He extended his warm welcome to the delegation led by the federation's president Dr. Ian Chan Yau-nam and praised their efforts in promoting Hong Kong's social harmony, prosperity and stability.