China’s top legislature pledged to introduce more policies and measures that benefit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, enabling the city to better leverage its unique advantages and align its strengths with the needs of the country, a legislature spokesperson said on Wednesday.

A day ahead of the opening of the annual session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing, Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 14th NPC, said the central government will make further arrangements in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) to support the Hong Kong SAR in leveraging its distinctive advantages and important role.

Lou affirmed Hong Kong’s longstanding contribution to national development, saying that “in the great transformation of the Chinese people and nation, from standing up to getting rich and then to becoming strong, Hong Kong compatriots have never been absent”.

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He cited President Xi Jinping’s New Year address, in which Xi stressed that the central government should unswervingly implement the policy of “one country, two systems”, and support Hong Kong and Macao in better integrating into the overall development of the country and maintaining long-term prosperity and stability.

The recommendations of the 15th Five-Year Plan adopted in October call for consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade center; supporting it in developing into an international innovation and technology center; and promoting Hong Kong and Macao as international hubs for high-caliber talent.

Lou said Hong Kong had made “new strides” toward renewed prosperity over the past year with strong backing from the central government. He described the city’s status as an international financial center as “even more solid” and its business environment as “open and efficient”, adding that innovation and science have become “new engines for Hong Kong’s economic development”.

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Initial public offering fundraising in Hong Kong rose 200 percent year-on-year, leading global markets. The city ranked first worldwide in economic freedom and returned to the top three in global competitiveness rankings.

The number of companies in Hong Kong with overseas or Chinese mainland parent firms surpassed 10,000, a record. It leaped to fourth place globally and first in Asia in the latest World Talent Ranking.

With the backing of the motherland and strong global connectivity, Lou said he believes Hong Kong will give full play to its distinctive advantages and align its strengths with national needs, so as to achieve better development as it integrates into and supports the overall development of the country, and to scale new heights in the process of Chinese modernization.  

The fourth session of the 14th NPC is set to begin on Thursday morning and conclude on March 12. Hong Kong and Macao are represented in the top legislature by 36 and 12 deputies, respectively.

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Li Yinquan, a Hong Kong deputy to the NPC, told China Daily that the central government has been firmly supporting the SAR’s development across sectors, including finance and technology.

He said the spokesperson’s renewed pledge of support is encouraging and will help Hong Kong strengthen its role in the country’s overall development.

NPC deputy Ma Fung-kwok said the fourth session of the 14th NPC — which will examine the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development — is a significant opportunity for Hong Kong.

He said the city’s NPC deputies have made thorough preparations to take part in the discussions, adding that with favorable conditions in place, Hong Kong should seize the opportunity to drive growth.

Nicholas Chan Hiu-fung, another NPC deputy from Hong Kong, said the city should draw up its own five-year development blueprint to align with the country’s longer-term strategy and contribute to national priorities.

While Hong Kong should embrace technology advancement which could help upgrade and transform traditional sectors, Chan, who’s also a Hong Kong lawmaker representing the legal sector, suggested the city establish governance frameworks and ethical standards for artificial intelligence to protect employment.

Contact the writer at irisli@chinadailyhk.com