The rule of law and stability are the most significant and fundamental values of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG) in the HKSAR said on Thursday.

Wang added that the central government firmly supports Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam, HKSAR government and the city's police force to continue to perform their duties according to law.

The Hong Kong Organising Committee has been established to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Wang made his remarks during the inaugural meeting.

As Chinese President Jinping has pointed out in his earlier speech, "Hong Kong is an affluent society, but it also faces enormous challenges posed by profound changes in the global economic environment and the increasingly-intense international competition. It cannot afford to be torn apart by reckless moves or an internal rift."

Wang stressed the negative impact of the recent violent incidents have already begun to disrupt the order of Hong Kong society, affecting the livelihood of citizens and undermining the city's economy. The assault on the Legislative Council building and resulting property damage have caused legislative-related meetings to be canceled over the next few weeks. Forty-four grant applications for livelihood projects could not be reviewed as scheduled, and the overall consumer confidence index in Hong Kong also fell to its lowest level in five years.

"The SAR Government will listen to the views more inclusively and openly so that the society can return to calm as soon as possible. We should give the government time and patience. The people of Hong Kong should be united, work together and help each other, and by so doing, you will ensure the success of Hong Kong, your common home," Wang said. 

Hong Kong’s destiny links to the motherland

Wang said the glorious course of 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China is also a glorious period in which Hong Kong and the motherland made progress, developed together and achieved economic takeoff.

He recalled that in the early 1950s, a large number of immigrants, funds and technology flowed into Hong Kong from the Chinese mainland, laying a solid foundation for the development of the local processing and manufacturing industries.

In the 1960s, the Chinese mainland overcame its own difficulties by transporting a large number of high-quality agricultural and sideline products to Hong Kong through the "three express trains" and solved local serious shortage of fresh water through the Dongshen Water Supply Project.

These efforts guaranteed Hong Kong people's livelihood, social stability and industrial takeoff, making Hong Kong one of the "four Asian dragons" in the 1970s.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a large number of Hong Kong entrepreneurs invested in the Chinese mainland and started their businesses thanks to the latter's reform and opening-up, beefing up the second economic transformation of Hong Kong from a manufacturing-oriented economy to a service-oriented one.

Wang also stressed since Hong Kong’s return, the motherland has always been the strong backing for local development.

Over the past 22 years, with the full support of the central government, Hong Kong withstood the impact of the Asian financial crisis, the SARS epidemic and the global financial crisis.

Hong Kong has emerged stronger as an international financial, shipping and trading center; and it has been consistently rated by many international institutions as one of the freest economies and most competitive regions in the world, Wang added.

He also pointed out Hong Kong’s rank in the world for its rule of law has jumped from 60th before the return to 16th now.

Hong Kong’s prospects remain bright

Wang said the central government's commitment to "One Country, Two Systems" remains unchanged, calling it the best policy arrangement for Hong Kong's prosperity and the good of the Chinese mainland. "The central government will unswervingly implement the policy of 'One Country, Two Systems' and make sure that it is fully applied in Hong Kong without being bent or distorted. This will enable us to keep advancing in the right direction."

Some external forces have openly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and there are also very few people in Hong Kong who worship foreign power and are willing to serve as pawns of external forces in an attempt to disrupt Hong Kong and make profits in the disorder. These actions should arouse great vigilance and resolute opposition of the whole society, Wang said, adding, "We firmly believe that Hong Kong will maintain its prosperity and stability, and its future will be better, with all the Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots jointly safeguarding (it) and with the strong backing of an increasingly powerful motherland."

The director also noted that the bright future of Hong Kong's integration into the country's overall development situation will not be changed.

Since Hong Hong's return, its ties with the motherland have become closer and closer, and its exchanges and cooperation have dramatically enhanced, he added.

A series of policies and measures for the benefit of Hong Kong have been introduced thanks to the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and further implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.