Beijing hints at fresh measures to boost Hong Kong economy a week before policy address

Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong drops hint in commentary published over weekend as it urges city to play to its strengths

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Beijing has also described Hong Kong’s economy as increasingly vibrant and dynamic. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 11:39am, 7 Oct 2024Updated: 9:46pm, 7 Oct 2024

Beijing will roll out more measures to boost the economic development of Hong Kong and Macau, central authorities have said, about a week before Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is set to deliver his third annual policy address.

The pledge was revealed in a commentary published by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office on Sunday, ahead of Tuesday’s much-awaited press conference by China’s top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission.

The press conference is set to focus on measures to improve the national economy.

Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong wrote in the commentary that central authorities had been rolling out measures according to the needs of the two cities.

It cited as examples the five-year travel permits for permanent residents with foreign passports in Hong Kong and Macau, the raising of duty-free shopping allowances for mainland Chinese tourists visiting the two cities and the gifting of two pandas to Hong Kong.

“National development is the biggest support for the development of Hong Kong and Macau after all, the motherland has been providing the two cities precious opportunities, continuous momentum and huge space [for development],” the office said.