Premier Li voices support for Hong Kong's leaders

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to actively participate in major major national investment and infrastructure projects.

He specifically cited the "Belt and Road" development, a global initiative by the Chinese government.

Speaking during a meeting in Beijing with Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the chief executive of the HKSAR, Li said he also hoped that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area could become an "important engine" for global economic development.

The ambition is to turn the area into the world's largest bay region in terms of GDP by 2030.

"You are leading the Hong Kong government in fulfilling promises made, and have taken a proactive approach to governance. Particularly in solving some people’s livelihood problems, you have taken new steps," Li told Lam, who was reporting on her administration's work program.

He stressed that the central government will continually and faithfully implement the "one country, two systems" policy that assures a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong.

It will also support HKSAR and Lam's work in accordance with law ensuring Hong Kong's long-term prosperity, stability and development, he said.

The premier said he hopes the HKSAR government can find new economic growth points and cultivate new industries so as to enhance its economic sustainability.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meeting with Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive of the HKSAR in Beijing on Friday. /Chinanews.com Photo

Li also said he was happy to see that Lam had been “actively” and “effectively” pressing ahead with the bay area initiative and praised her administration for working closely with mainland authorities on the project.

Lam said the HKSAR has benefited from the development of the country and the support of the central government.

HKSAR will strive for better integration into the overall development and will promote the development of finance, innovation, technology and creative industry so that people in Hong Kong can share the fruit of its economic development, she added.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay initiative was filed with the national economic planner earlier this year.

According to Zhang Xiaoqiang, China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) executive deputy head, the combined regional GDP of the greater bay area stood at 9.35 trillion yuan (1.38 trillion US dollars) in 2016, compared with the GDP of the Chinese mainland at 74.41 trillion yuan (9.63 trillion US dollars) last year.

(With inputs from Xinhua)