Local officials say publications will help them improve SAR’s governance
A Hong Kong resident browses a book on Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Hong Kong Book Fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Thursday. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
Hong Kong book lovers got an early glimpse of the five books highlighting President Xi Jinping’s thought and local work experience at the city’s top annual book fair.
They said the books enable local youths to have a full picture of the country’s developing trends and priorities, and provide important references for Hong Kong to improve its governance and uphold the principle of “one country, two systems”.
The traditional Chinese version of five books — including an outline for the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and four titles on his work experience in Shanghai municipality and the provinces of Hebei, Fujian and Zhejiang — debuted Wednesday at Hong Kong Book Fair. The five books are displayed on the front row at the booths of main local chain bookstores, such as the Joint Publishing, The Commercial Press and Chung Hwa Book.
READ MORE: Xi: Build modern Chinese civilization
A visitor surnamed Cheung purchased a few books, saying he was inspired by Xi’s speech and decided to further study them at home.
Five books in Chinese traditional characters — an outline for the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and four books on President Xi’s local work experience — are displayed at the Hong Kong Book Fair. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
Lai, a secondary school student and a fan of Chinese history and biographies of great figures, believes that Xi’s important thought can help him better understand global trends and inspire his personal development direction.
The five books, published and distributed by Sino United Publishing, aim to provide an important reference for various sectors in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, which are striving to develop their economies, improve people’s well-being, enhance patriotism and the sense of national identity, and advance the successful practice of “one country, two systems.”
Speaking at the books’ launch ceremony on Wednesday, Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, stressed that the five books can help Hong Kong comprehensively and accurately implement the central government’s Hong Kong-related policies, seize opportunities from the country’s development, and contribute to the Chinese path to modernization.
Hong Kong readers are also provided a chance to better understand the motherland, so they can tell good Chinese stories to the world, Zheng said.
Zhang Jianchun, vice-minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Hong Kong is a diverse society that has inherited both Chinese and Western cultures. He emphasized that this multicultural background gives the city an edge in building an international platform to spread Chinese culture.
Residents read books on Chinese President Xi Jinping at Hong Kong’s annual book fair at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, on July 20, 2023. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
Zhang stressed that the central authorities will continue to encourage Hong Kong publishers to play a bigger role in promoting Chinese culture globally by translating classic Chinese works, organizing book fairs, and promoting copyright trade in Hong Kong.
Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who also attended the event, said Xi’s books comprehensively reflect the latest development of Xi Jinping Thought, which is of great significance for Hong Kong to improve its governance and enhance its all-round integration into the country’s development.
Chan said that he was impressed by the in-depth discussion in the books about the successful implementation of “one country, two systems” in the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, adding that Xi’s instructions flag the direction for Hong Kong to safeguard national sovereignty and security, and to maintain the long-term stability and prosperity under the “one country, two systems”.
READ MORE: Xi calls for efforts to build modern Chinese civilization
Chan said the Hong Kong SAR government will continue to promote the implementation of “one country, two systems” and “patriots administering Hong Kong”, improve the SAR’s mechanism for safeguarding national security, and better leverage the city’s strategic strengths to serve the need of the country’s high-quality development.
Wu Siu-wai, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, said the traditional Chinese version of the books will enable Hong Kong students and parents to understand China’s modernization path over the recent decades. From the books, they can also see the nation’s top leader’s life trajectory and his work experience at the grassroots level, he added.
