Pressing ahead at full speed with the preparation of its own first five-year plan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will seize on major opportunities brought by the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, the city’s leader said on Wednesday.
As a directional, strategic and operable guiding document, the plan will map out the SAR’s development over the coming five years, John Lee Ka-chiu said while visiting the “30th Anniversary Achievement Exhibition” for the “3820” Strategic Project on the last day of his visit to Fujian province.
Hong Kong will consolidate and enhance its status as an international financial, shipping and trading center, accelerate its development into an international innovation and technology (I&T) center, build an international hub for high-caliber talent, better integrate into and serve the overall national development, further develop the economy and improve people's livelihood, he added.
The “3820” Strategic Project – which originated from Fuzhou City's 20-Year Economic and Social Development Strategic Vision formulated in 1992 under the stewardship of President Xi Jinping when he was the secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee – showcases Fuzhou's achievements in urban planning and socio-economic development.
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Lee said the strategic vision mapped out Fuzhou’s socio-economic development goals, key steps and areas of focus, demonstrating a forward-looking and inspirational approach that has guided Fuzhou’s reform and opening up, and modernization.
During the day, the HKSAR chief executive met elderly Hong Kong residents, who have moved to Fujian, in the provincial capital of Fuzhou to learn about their living conditions.
He highlighted that the HKSAR government provides support for cross-boundary elderly care. Among various measures, the Fujian Scheme provides a monthly cash allowance to eligible Hong Kong residents who have moved to Fujian.
The SAR government will continue to enact cross-boundary elderly care measures, providing greater convenience for Hong Kong elderly persons who choose to retire on the Chinese mainland, he added.
In Ningde city, the CE met CPC Ningde Municipal Committee Secretary Zhang Yongning to exchange views on issues of mutual concern.
Lee also visited battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co, Limited (CATL) and national-level "little giant" enterprise Ningde Sikeqi Intelligent Equipment Co, Ltd (SKEQI) to learn about high-tech developments in research and development of new energy battery technology and automated intelligent equipment manufacturing.
CATL’s decision to list in Hong Kong last year – which was the world's largest initial public offering at the time – and to establish its research and development institute in the city reflects the SAR’s dual advantages as an international financial hub and an innovation and technology hub, he said.
Home to five universities ranked among the world’s top 100 and eight universities ranked among Asia’s top 100, Hong Kong is bringing together scientific research experts and teams from around the world, Lee said. Leveraging the innovation strengths of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the HKSAR is striving to develop as an international innovation and technology center and to accelerate the realization of the Northern Metropolis, he added.
The CE invited more Fujian enterprises to establish a presence in the flagship project, leverage the city’s advantages and bring in frontier high-tech technologies and talent to the city.
Before returning to the city, he exchanged views with CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee Secretary Guo Ningning and Fuzhou Mayor Wu Xiande in Fuzhou.
