Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (left) is received by Vice-Premier of the State Council Han Zheng in Beijing, Nov 6, 2020. (PHOTO/HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - Vice-Premier Han Zheng on Friday called on Hong Kong to harness its advantages to better position itself to grasp the opportunities of the nation’s next stage of development.

He made his remarks in a meeting with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who was on the last day of a three-day trip in Beijing to seek the central government’s support to revive the city’s virus-battered economy.

The central government will support all measures that will help maintain Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, increase people’s well-being, and facilitate Hong Kong’s integration into the country’s development

The country is formulating the development plan for the next five years, based on proposals made in the fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Han said.

Han encouraged Hong Kong to seize opportunities from the nation’s future development, and give full play to its strengths.

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The central government will support all measures that will help maintain Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, increase people’s well-being, and facilitate Hong Kong’s integration into the country’s development. Central government ministries and departments will also be supportive of these measures, Han said.

He spoke highly of the SAR government’s performance this year, noting its efforts to control the pandemic, alleviate people’s hardship, revive the economy, and implement the National Security Law for Hong Kong.

He expressed firm, unwavering support of the central government for Lam and her administration to lead the city in accordance with the law.

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Others who attended the meeting include Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council; Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the office; and Luo Huining, director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong.

Lam arrived in Beijing on Tuesday evening and is scheduled to leave the capital for Guangzhou, Guangdong province tonight. On Saturday, she will meet with provincial government officials in Guangzhou and also with municipal government leaders in Shenzhen.