Hong Kong to reap more dividends through closer development with China, says Beijing’s top man in city

Wang Zhimin, head of the central government liaison office, said Hong Kong had become such a successful trading, shipping and financial centre through two key national policies

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The West Kowloon High Speed Rail Terminus is nearing completion. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 8:08pm, 7 Mar 2018Updated: 9:50pm, 7 Mar 2018

Hong Kong has reaped “great dividends” from two key Chinese policies – and more opportunities are on the way with the city’s integration into national development, Beijing’s top man in the city said on Wednesday.

Wang Zhimin, head of the central government liaison office, said Hong Kong had become such a successful trading, shipping and financial centre in the 1990s by riding on China’s “economic reform and opening” and through the “one country, two systems” policy.

Wang Zhimin says Hong Kong is a ‘blessed land’. Photo: Winson Wong

Speaking in Beijing, Wang, citing the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge and the high-speed rail link to the mainland, said the city would now have the facilities to work even more closely with the country.

“So I really think Hong Kong is a blessed land and Hong Kong compatriots are very lucky. These two major national policies created great dividends for Hong Kong through macroeconomic policies and systems,” Wang told a pro-Beijing news outlet.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, after returning from Beijing from the opening of the annual “two sessions” political meetings, said on Wednesday the government would expedite integration work, and that Premier Li Keqiang had boosted her confidence for doing the job.

Li Keqiang delivers his speech in Beijing. Photo: Bloomberg