Xi's remarks lift community's spirits

President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan bid farewell at Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday after a three-day visit to the city marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China and inaugurating its fifth-term government. EDMOND TANG/CHINA DAILY

People from various sectors in Hong Kong all spoke highly of President Xi Jinping's visit. They said it enhances the city's confidence and resolution to work toward a more prosperous, harmonious society under the "one country, two systems" principle.

Xi wrapped up a three-day visit in Hong Kong on Saturday after presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of the fifth-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, attending events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, and carrying out an inspection tour of the region.

Samuel Yung Wing-ki, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told China Daily that Xi's three-day visit showed the central government's care and support for Hong Kong and its people.

The visit also reassured Hong Kong people that the central government would unswervingly uphold the "one country, two systems" principle to maintain the Asian financial hub's prosperity and stability. Yung urged people to heed Xi's call for Hong Kong to set aside major differences and seek broad common ground in order to have rational discussions on social issues.

Starry Lee Wai-king, a Hong Kong lawmaker and chairwoman of the city's largest political group－the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong－attended the new-term government's inauguration ceremony on Saturday. Lee said Xi's remarks during the swearing-in ceremony stressed the importance of having a correct understanding of the relationship between "one country" and "two systems".

She said some people in Hong Kong in recent years held misconceptions about the relationship－and about how to handle relations between the mainland and Hong Kong.

During his visit to the city, the president cautioned that any attempt to challenge the "one country, two systems" principle or undermine national sovereignty is an act that crossed the red line, Lee said.

Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, a member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, was also at the ceremony. She noted that Xi's remarks showed there are plenty of opportunities for Hong Kong to boost development and its international prestige with the unique advantages of "one country, two systems".

The business sectors also expressed appreciation of Xi's successful visit to Hong Kong, saying it has given the city a direction to grow its economy in future.

On Saturday, the president attended the signing ceremony of the framework agreement on development of the 11-city cluster of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Local business-oriented political group Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong expressed gratitude that Xi's visit identified a clear role for Hong Kong in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the alliance noted the framework agreement on development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is of significant importance to Hong Kong, as it has given the city a new blueprint for future development and a new engine of economic growth.

Contact the writers at willa@chinadailyhk.com