BEING OF ONE HEART, DIRECTION TO MAKE NEW SUCCESS
To write a new chapter of 「One Country, Two Systems」 in the new era
Speech by Wang Zhimin
At the Spring Festival Reception held by the Liaison Office of the Central People』s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
January 29, 2019
Honorable Vice Chairmen Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying,
Honorable Chief Executive Carrie Lam,
Distinguished guests and friends:
Today is traditionally celebrated in South China as 「the beginning of spring」 on the Chinese lunar calendar, meaning people are starting to celebrate the Spring Festival. In this day full of joy and hope, on behalf of all the staff of the Liaison Office of the Central People』s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I』d like to extend our early greetings for a Happy Lunar New Year to all of the distinguished guests and friends attending the annual Spring Festival Reception as well as all Hong Kong residents. We wish everyone an auspicious Year of the Pig and a happy family! Kung Hei Fat Choi!
In year of 2018, China took further steps in reform and opening-up, and the cause of the Communist Party of China and the country made great achievements by handling various risks and challenges.
We celebrated the 40th anniversary of China』s reform and opening-up, summarized achievements and experience accumulated in the past 40 years, solemnly declared a firm resolve to carry on reform and opening-up without pause in the new era and made advances in a new round of reform and opening-up with more courage and efforts. Leading the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and facing intricate international environments and heavy tasks in domestic reform and development, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping as its core composedly responded to difficulties and promoted the Party and State』s causes to make new achievements. China』s GDP in 2018 continued to keep a medium-to-high growth speed, which was the highest among the top five economies around the world. China contributed to nearly 30 percent of the world's economic growth and remained the largest contributor to global growth with better quality for economic development. The Chinese government has achieved initial-stage success in preventing and mitigating major risks, targeted poverty elimination and preventing and controlling pollution. Another 10 million poverty-stricken rural residents were lifted out of poverty. Scientific innovations have continuously provided support and guidance for economic and social development. The Chang』e lunar probe, Beidou Navigation System and other major achievements in science and technology were inspiring at home and abroad. We steadily promote major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Hosting the first China International Import Expo and other events manifested China』s responsibility and influence. The idea to build a community with a shared future for mankind has received wide recognition and response internationally. Achieving these milestones has brought pride to all Chinese people who are running toward the realization of our dreams.
It was also a year when situations in Hong Kong society had distinct and positive changes. Social ethos has turned more righteous, and the people have become more united.
General Secretary Xi Jinping』s high prestige, especially the profound sentiment revealed by his stating 「Hong Kong's development has always pulled at my heartstrings」 as well as the direct care from China』s top leadership to Hong Kong compatriots led Hong Kong』s situations toward continuous and stable improvement. Voices from central authorities and State issues such as the CPC』s 19th National Congress, national Two Sessions and celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the country』s reform and opening-up as well as publicity of the country』s Constitution and education of national security have attracted wide attention and active response in Hong Kong society. Xi』s remarks made during a meeting with delegations from Hong Kong and Macao to celebrate the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up has strongly inspired Hong Kong people to work together with one heart. To seek harmony, development and stability as well as to prioritize economy, livelihood and construction increasingly become the mainstream of public opinion and social consensus. Positive energy is rising in Hong Kong society. The faith of 「have full confidence in ourselves, in Hong Kong and in our country」 by Hong Kong compatriots has been enhanced, which further determined our confidence and resolve to realize a better development for Hong Kong in advancing the reform and opening-up and the cause of 「One Country, Two Systems.」
Under the leadership of Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the Hong Kong SAR government has unswervingly upheld the principle of 「One Country, Two Systems」, the Constitution and the Basic Law, live up to their responsibilities in an active effort and achieved positive results by exercising law-based governance. With a spirit of 「setting no easy goals and avoiding no difficult tasks,」 Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the SAR government have maintained an absolutely clear stance when it comes to black and white issues and shown no tolerance for any act that would hit the country』s bottom line. The Chief Executive and the SAR government have focused their efforts on developing the economy, improving people』s livelihoods, making plans for Hong Kong』s long-term development and striving to solve problems concerning the interests of local residents. Their efforts have been highly endorsed by the central government and widely praised by Hong Kong residents. The Legislature and Judiciary of Hong Kong SAR have performed their duties in accordance with the law and made important contributions to maintaining the SAR』s constitutional order, promoting the spirit of patriotism and enhancing the well-being of the local community.
All circles of Hong Kong society have actively participated in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with a positive trend of integrating Hong Kong』s development into the development of the country. By participating in the Greater Bay Area construction, the Hong Kong SAR, for the first time, is deeply engaged in drafting and implementing an outline of a national strategic plan. In addition, the Chief Executive, for the first time, becomes a member of a leading group to implement national strategies, which embodies that the central authorities highly value the status and roles Hong Kong and Macao could play in the Greater Bay Area construction. The central government departments and the Guangdong provincial government have promulgated a series of policies to facilitate study, employment and living in the mainland for Hong Kong and Macao residents. Nearly 100,000 Hong Kong compatriots have successfully acquired residence permit ID documents in the mainland. Hong Kong has been linked to the national high-speed railway system, and a bridge has brought together Hong Kong Zhuhai and Macao, which makes a one-hour living circle possible within the Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong has been rated as the world's freest economy for 25 consecutive years and one of the most competitive economies in the world for many years. The international community continued to favorably speak about and evaluate Hong Kong. All of these achievements again explain that 「One Country, Two Systems」 is Hong Kong』s greatest advantage and the Chinese mainland with reform and opening-up is Hong Kong』s biggest stage.
Dear guests and friends,
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People』s Republic of China. Under the strong leadership of the CPC over the past 70 years, Chinese people successfully completed a socialist revolution and started a new great journey of reform and opening-up. Chinese people have created historical miracle upon miracle. Our nation has made historical progress in terms of social productivity and composite national strength and delivered initial prosperity to its people who were once struggling to meet their basic living needs. The Chinese nation reversed its fate from the continuous decline of modern times to steady progress toward prosperity and strength. With great vitality and hope, China again stands tall and firm in the East. Our direction determines our path, and our path determines our future. Why was China able to complete an industrialization process in just a few decades that took developed countries several hundred years? Why could Chinese people achieve what once impossible? It is the socialist path with Chinese characteristics pioneered by Chinese people rallying under the leadership of the CPC that makes China demonstrate unprecedented vitality. We firmly believe that, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we will make greater new achievements for the Chinese nation in the new era and create greater new miracles that impress the world as long as we stick to our commitment and hard work.
The destiny of Hong Kong has always been intricately bound with that of the motherland. During the 70-year history of the PRC, especially the 40-year history of reform and opening-up, Hong Kong has always been developing and thriving together with the mainland. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during a meeting with delegations from Hong Kong and Macao to celebrate the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up that, during the 40-year history of reform and opening-up, Hong Kong and Macao are witnesses and participants as well as beneficiaries and contributors. Together with the mainland people, Hong Kong and Macao compatriots are creators of the great miracles of the reform and opening-up. The reform and opening-up over the past four decades was a cause that Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland complemented one another on and prospered together with, a cause in which compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao make concerted efforts and worked together shoulder to shoulder with mainland people, a cause that the two SARs integrated their own development into the overall development of the country and shared with the mainland people the pride of a strong and prosperous China. Hong Kong and Macao still hold unique positions, have unique strengths and will play irreplaceable roles in the reform and opening-up process in the new era.
We believe and hope that under the leadership of Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the SAR government, all circles of Hong Kong society will contribute to the country's comprehensive opening-up in a more proactive manner, integrate themselves more proactively into the country's overall development, participate in national governance more proactively and push for international people-to-people exchange more proactively. We believe and hope that Hong Kong compatriots will acquire more of a sense of contentment, security and happiness by staying committed to the basis of 「One Country」 and well leverage the benefits of 「Two Systems.」 Together with the mainland people, Hong Kong compatriots could contribute to the grand fulfillment to ensure the success of development on the mainland, which practices the socialist system, and also ensure the success of development in Hong Kong, which practices the capitalist system.
Dear guests and friends,
As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, the great vision of 「One Country, Two Systems」 has strong vitality. Since returning to the motherland, the practice of 「One Country, Two Systems」 in Hong Kong has been a success story recognized by all, which fully proves that 「One Country, Two Systems」 has been a workable solution welcomed by the people, the best institutional arrangement to ensure long-term prosperity and stability for Hong Kong after its return and the best path for Hong Kong compatriots to take part in the great cause of national rejuvenation. To promote the cause of 「One Country, Two Systems」 in the new era and realize national reunification has been a common aspiration of all Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots. As a representative organ of the central government to the Hong Kong SAR, the Liaison Office shoulders a glorious mission and weighty responsibility. For quite some time, the Liaison Office』s work has been fully supported by successive Chief Executives and the SAR government administrations as well as the SAR』s Legislature, Judiciary and all circles of Hong Kong society. Hereby, on behalf of all the staff of the Liaison Office, I』d like to express our sincere gratitude and heartfelt respect to the care, support and assistance given by all social circles and residents in Hong Kong.
At the Spring Festival Reception last year, I said whether in the past with the name of Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Branch at Happy Valley, or now the Liaison Office of the Central People』s Government in the Hong Kong SAR at Western District, we will serve Hong Kong people with doors wide open just like old friends, and there is nothing mysterious. We will walk together with you, the SAR government as well as the 7.4 million Hong Kong residents. During the past year, we held public Open Day activities in the Liaison Office building and encouraged staff to learn and speak Cantonese. We opened a new column on the Liaison Office』s official website to share our staff』s stories in Hong Kong and also launched our official blog account on WeChat. We participated in Hong Kong Tree Planting Day and other public service activities such as cleaning roads blocked by debris left by Typhoon Mangkhut. All these efforts showcased the Liaison Office』s commitment to getting rooted in and integrated with Hong Kong, serving Hong Kong, being of one heart and one direction with Hong Kong compatriots.
In the new year, the Liaison Office will open its doors wider. When spring arrives, we will sincerely invite the SAR government officials and friends in all social circles including all members of the Legislature Council to a spring dinner gathering held in the Liaison Office building to share foods and talk face to face so as to enhance mutual understanding and accumulate consensus through friendly communication, jointly make efforts for building a stable, prosperous and long-standing peaceful homeland in Hong Kong, and jointly promote the successful practice of 「One Country, Two Systems」 to achieve more fruits in the new era.
Thank you!
附：王志民在中央政府駐港聯絡辦2019年新春酒會上致辭（中文版）
