Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), visited local residents Thursday, in a prelude to the office's week-long community-level tours during the National Day holiday.

Luo visited fishermen, young entrepreneurs, communities, street shops and residents in bed-space apartments, conveyed the central government's care for the livelihood of the grassroots in the city, and listened to opinions and suggestions.

Luo's first stop was the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter, where he boarded a fishing boat and was warmly welcomed by the fishermen, who said the fishery sector and fishermen in the HKSAR have seen tangible benefits thanks to a series of central government policies over the years.

Luo said the central government attaches great importance to Hong Kong's economy and people's livelihood, noting that 21 policies have been introduced recently to benefit Hong Kong people in different industries.

"The fundamental purpose is to allow ordinary people to live a better life. Only when the life of the general public is better and the sense of happiness is strong can Hong Kong develop well," Luo said.

The director also visited Cyberport to learn about start-ups by young entrepreneurs, calling on Hong Kong's youth to grasp historical opportunities amid favorable policies and the Greater Bay Area integration.

While visiting a community welfare association hall in Kowloon's Sham Shui Po, where medical services are provided with the sponsorship of enterprises from the Chinese mainland, Luo said these enterprises are stakeholders in Hong Kong society and builders of the "One Country, Two Systems."

Noting that the firms have been actively fulfilling their social responsibilities, he lauded their role in ensuring market supply and promoting youth employment in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Luo then visited street shop owners and residents living in bed-space apartments in Mong Kok, Kowloon.

There are about 200,000 people in Hong Kong who rent sub-divided housing and "cage homes." The average waiting time for public housing has reached a record high.

Luo said as long as the people-centered development concept is firmly upheld, specific housing problems in Hong Kong can be solved step by step.

(All photos courtesy of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in HKSAR)