Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said Beijing has shifted its focus from export and infrastructure to consumption and innovation technology.
“Basically the emphasis is still on the economy, particularly at a time when the world economy is in a poor state and that China is under containment by the United States. That’s why China is very desperate to change the course of economic development,” he told RTHK.
In his annual work report, Premier Li Qiang called on Hong Kong to “deepen international exchanges and cooperation” while safeguarding the constitutional order.
Lau highlighted the SAR’s role in helping Beijing develop connections beyond Western countries.
“Both China and Hong Kong today, in order to shake off the constraints imposed on us by the United States and its Western allies, we have to explore new opportunities for development from the non-Western world,” he said.
“That’s why China wants Hong Kong as an international city with widespread international linkages to help both Hong Kong itself and China to develop more connections with other places apart from the Western world.”
Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan that begins next year, Lau stressed the need for the city to align its development plan with the nation’s strategy.
During the weeklong “Two Sessions”, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee released a work report stating that Beijing will formulate the private economy promotion law to strengthen legal protection and policy support for private enterprises.
Lau said he believes Beijing is stepping up support for and giving a bigger role to private companies, to put them on an equal footing with state enterprises.
“Most importantly, Beijing will allow the private enterprises to have a much larger market within China, and to help them explore the opportunities abroad,” he said.
