Hong Kong Special Adminstrative Region Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is on the stage at Guoyi Hotel, Beijing, capital of China on March 15, 2023. Lee on March 22, 2023 said that with the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, officials and civil servants should visit the mainland regularly. (XUE JINGQI / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), has said that with the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, officials and civil servants should visit the mainland regularly.

Lee made the remarks when chairing the second meeting of the Steering Group on Integration into National Development on Wednesday.

He requested and encouraged the secretaries of departments, directors of bureaux and civil servants of the HKSAR government to visit more often different provinces and cities in the mainland, and establish connections, promote communication and mutual trust with relevant central and regional units, thereby creating more favorable conditions for Hong Kong's integration into the overall national development.

ALSO READ: Full border reopening to welcome mainland visitors

The meeting focused on all facets of promoting Hong Kong's integration into national development, namely the latest developments, future key initiatives and work plans of the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development, the Belt and Road Initiative as well as different regional cooperation matters between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Lee pointed out that the HKSAR government needs to play an instrumental role and make achievements in facilitating the integration, particularly in three aspects. Firstly, all policy bureaux should spare no effort in conducting research. Secondly, it is about planning and coordination and leading principal officials should play an active role. Thirdly, targets should be set and regular supervision on progress should be conducted.

READ MORE: Travel between mainland, HK & Macao to fully resume on Feb 6

Established by the HKSAR government at the end of 2022, the Steering Group on Integration into National Development aims to promote and supervise work on integrating into the national development from a macro perspective.