Hong Kong must study and implement the spirit of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee and accurately identify the city’s advantages and how it positions itself in the nation’s development, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Monday.

Lee also said that Hong Kong should give full play to its distinct advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework in the next five years of the nation’s development during a meeting with his team to study the essence of the nation’s recently concluded fourth plenary session

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He said that Hong Kong — which faces profound changes in the development environment along with increasing uncertainties — must continue to leverage its unique advantages as a region that enjoys strong national support and maintains unparalleled connectivity with the wider world under the "one country, two systems" principle in order to secure its long-term prosperity and stability, both economically and socially.  

Studying and implementing the essence of the session is an important political task for Hong Kong, Lee said, citing the critical juncture the city is at as it advances from stability to prosperity.

According to a communique released on Thursday as the session concluded, participants in the session deliberated over and adopted the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development.

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Lee said the adopted recommendations summarize the major achievements made in the previous Five-Year Plan and put forward new requirements to be included in the new Five-Year Plan. Top-level designs and strategic planning will be implemented over the next five-year period, with the plan providing scientific guidance for creating a new chapter in Chinese-style modernization.  

During the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region achieved several milestones, including developing as an international hub in finance, aviation, and innovation; establishing itself as a center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific Region; and raising its profile as an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange, Lee said.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com