A senior government official revealed on Tuesday that Beijing's 11th 5-year Plan reflects China's determination to promote Hong Kong's prosperity and long term stability as a leading international financial services centre.

Xu Lin, Deputy Director General of the National Development & Reform Commission Department of Development Planning, told a seminar attended by 170 Hong Kong civil servants that under the Basic Law and the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems,' the planning and arrangement of socio-economic development should be left to the government of the Special Administrative Region.

"By capitalising its advantage and potential, and through enhancing its competitiveness, Hong Kong could certainly thrive for a better future," he stated.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Stephen Lam stated that under the plan, support will be given to Hong Kong's development on fronts such as financial services, logistics, tourism and information services, and to maintain Hong Kong's status as an international hub on financial services, trade and shipping.

"This shows that development of the Mainland and Hong Kong is closely related as well as complementary. The principle of One Country, Two Systems is fully illustrated by the fact that the 11th 5-year Plan does not include concrete and detailed planning on Hong Kong," observed Mr Lam.

Mr Lam urged his colleagues in the SAR to strengthen their understanding of the 5 year plan.

Hong Kong's Constitutional Affairs Bureau is working on forming a Mainland affairs liaison office, to enhance co-ordination on co-operation with the Mainland.