简体中文
Cai Guanshen
(The author is a member of the CPPCC National Committee’s Standing Committee and chairman of the Guangdong-HK-Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union.)
In 1995, America’s Fortune Magazine published a cover story titled “The Death of Hong Kong”, which sensationalized that after the handover, Hong Kong would be a backwater with capital flight, facing a bleak future henceforward.
However, 25 years after the return, Hong Kong’s GDP rose from HKD 1.37 trillion to HKD 2.73 trillion, its per capita GDP rose from HKD 192,000 to HKD 386,000, and its ranking in the Global Rule of Law Index rose from 60th to 19th. Statistics and facts have proved that the doomsayers in the West are wrong - Hong Kong is far from “dead”. On the contrary, it continues to prosper.
The sixth administration of Hong Kong will soon take office. Since the list of the cabinet is published, people's general recognition is evident - the team is expected to firmly implement the concept of ”results as the goal”, make good use of their respective strengths, proactively improve governance effectiveness and work together with the people in an aim to hail a new chapter of Hong Kong’s proper governance.
Personally speaking, the new cabinet has three major characteristics:
First, they are a team of diverse, united patriots with loyal and unwavering hearts. What is gratifying is that the principle of “patriots governing Hong Kong” has been fully implemented.
Second, they are a team with strong execution ability. Talents from different walks of life are gathered here, with familiarity with government operations, public opinions, national conditions, and developments of the mainland, as well as a broad international vision, building great expectations for the new government to resolve deep-seated social conflicts and break the situation in Hong Kong.
Third, they have better rapport and cooperation experience than the previous administrations. It is reasonable to expect that they will immediately start working as a solid team without too much running-in. After officially taking office, it will make the transition with the old administration as quickly as possible and fully enter the working status.
The sixth administration is characterized by diverse, competent, and professional talents. Among them are incumbent government officials, senior civil servants well-versed in government operations, a number of former Legislative Council members, and senior barristers, educators and other professionals with sufficient professional know-how, practical experience and general recognition in relevant fields. This reflects that the innovative and talent-oriented approach of the new administration is in line with actual needs, and will establish a more harmonious, efficient and united relationship with the Legislative Council and civil servants. We can expect to see the results of the policies acting in the best interests of the people.
Meanwhile, the new administration is bound to face unprecedented and serious challenges, mainly from three aspects:
First, challenges from within. Since its return, Hong Kong has accumulated many deep-seated problems in both people’s livelihood and the economy. Housing, medical care, education, the ambition of the young generation, etc., which have been repeatedly mentioned by various parties, need to be addressed by the new administration with great courage and innovation. Meanwhile, holding a responsible attitude towards the country, its history, and Hong Kong, the new cabinet shall strive to shoulder the national mission by proactively facing and reconciling with the problems. A five-year term indeed leaves John Lee Ka-chiu and his cabinet very limited time, and they have every reason to take full advantage of this precious opportunity.
Second, challenges from the rapid development of the mainland and the national mission. Under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong serves as a strategic hub of China’s new “dual circulation” economic development and an irreplaceable intermediary for China’s communication with the world. The Central government has never entrusted any mainland city with such a task of becoming “eight centers” as Hong Kong – in the 14th Five-Year Plan, aside from being promoted and consolidated as the “four traditional centers”, namely international financial center, international transportation center, international trade center, and a center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong is also encouraged and supported to become the “four emerging centers”, namely an international aviation hub, an intellectual property trading hub in the Asia-Pacific region, an international innovation and technology (I&T) center, and a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.
In addition, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a major national strategy planned, deployed and promoted by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, which is closely linked with the overall situation of China's reform and opening up. As a crucial link of this process, Hong Kong should not fall behind. Rather, it should make full use of its unique strengths and the “one country, two systems” framework to contribute to the greater good of the country. It is a great challenge to turn the grand blueprint of the Northern Metropolis into reality, thus laying a solid foundation for the deep integration of economy, scientific research, education, health care in Hong Kong and Shenzhen as well as the Greater Bay Area, and to achieve the positionings such as “international first-class bay area and world-class city cluster”, “one-hour living circle”, and “Belt and Road”.
Third, severe challenges from complex international situations. The world is undergoing changes unseen in a century. With the decline of its own national strength, the United States has made the most blatant crackdown on international peace and emerging powers in recent years. It arbitrarily undermines the international order under its long arm, so as to ignore any international law. Therefore, the new government must be fully prepared to bear the unreasonable sanctions imposed by the United States and must make contingency plans to deal with these sanctions. In addition, the new government must formulate detailed plans and implement them as soon as possible, so as to speed up the connection between Hong Kong and the mainland’s economies and prevent further deterioration of economic globalization and partial decoupling between China and the United States.
As formidable as these major challenges are, Hong Kong will surmount them with the strong support of the Chinese mainland. We look forward to the new administration headed by John Lee Ka-chiu to ensure that Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland share the historic responsibility for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the glory of China’s prosperity and strength.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
