Integration between HK and the mainland is irreversible
Updated: 2012-11-10 06:17
By Cheung Wah-Fung(HK Edition)
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The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) began in Beijing on Thursday. As I did 10 years ago, I sat in front of my television and watched intently as General Secretary Hu Jintao delivered the political report. This time I noticed the part of the report concerning Hong Kong and Macao offered some new ideas as well as follow-ups to previous discussions.
Hu emphasized that the central government will handle SAR-related affairs strictly by the Basic Law and support the SAR governments' lawful administration. He summed up the goals as focusing on economic development, effectively improving people's standard of living, advancing democracy step by step and promoting harmony with inclusiveness and compassion.
For the most part, this section is a roundup of policy with which we already are quite familiar. What is new about it, in my opinion, is that Hu believes Hong Kong and Macao compatriots not only have the wisdom, ability and means to run the two SAR governments and develop their economies well, but that they also can play a positive role in national affairs and share the dignity and glory of being Chinese nationals, with all of their fellow citizens.
To me, General Secretary Hu in his report relayed the central government's care and support, as well as its expectations and hopes for Hong Kong. In the 10 years since the 16th National Congress of the CPC in 2002, I am pleased to see that mainland economic development surged ahead in leaps and bounds and became the second largest economy in the world last year. Meanwhile, the "One Country, Two Systems" principle has proven successful, and the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao were given separate chapters in the nation's 12th Five-Year Plan.
The 12th Five-Year Plan cites the deepening cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland as part of the national strategy. Helped by supportive measures taken by the central government, Hong Kong's economic growth, market freedom and business environment remained among the best among developed economies. The city also enjoyed abundant financial reserves and low jobless rates. People from all walks of life, including those on the bottom rung of the social ladder, have benefited from the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, Individual Visit Scheme, large-scale infrastructure development projects and adoption of minimum wage in the past 10 years, while democratic development also proceeded as planned. I am very happy and proud of every achievements made by Hong Kong and the mainland.
My ancestors came to Hong Kong from Fujian province. In my 40 years of experience working in Hong Kong's financial markets, I felt keenly Hong Kong could not have become so prosperous and vibrant without the support from the mainland. It has been particularly evident in recent years, in the way Hong Kong's status as an international financial center has grown along with the total value of listed companies and IPOs.
Hu's speech gave me a better understanding of Hong Kong's place and role in the nation's future development. The general secretary's intention was to cement the resolve to push for further cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland. I believe that, after the 18th CPC national congress, the central government will attach even greater importance to maintaining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, focus policies and measures on better facilitating the SAR government's efforts to improve its governance and enhance the harmonious coexistence of Hong Kong and mainland residents as well as joint development.
With great concern, I noticed a small number of people have been taking advantage of some local residents' discontent toward mainland visitors and the central government and spreading the idea of "de-mainlandization" with such slogans as "no mainland interference in Hong Kong affairs". A few individuals went so far as to wave the British colonial flag in public to show their political bias.
Hongkongers have freedom of speech and the right to protest, but should not use it to advance ideas about poisoning Hong Kong's relations with the mainland and with the central government. I sincerely hope people will come to a thorough understanding of Hu's words about Hong Kong, and realize Hong Kong's future development will rely even more on economic integration with the mainland.
The author is a Hong Kong member of the CPPCC.
(HK Edition 11/10/2012 page3)