Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he would lead the city in forging ahead with reforms to build a safe and stable Hong Kong in three key areas: safeguarding high-quality development with high-level security, accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, and proactively improving people's livelihoods.
In his speech at the reception held to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, Lee said the city faces both challenges and opportunities amid economic restructuring.
"Hong Kong will remain steadfast in maintaining national security, fully seize national opportunities and proactively integrate into the overall national development," the city leader said. "With a view to fostering economic growth and development while assisting enterprises in upgrading their operations and expanding domestic and overseas sales markets."
He noted that the city would deepen international exchanges and cooperation, explore new markets and opportunities, expand and strengthen regional trade in order to offset the risk of over-reliance on a single market in business trade.
As for the the Northern Metropolis, Lee said it is a "new engine" for the development of Hong Kong as the Metropolis takes up around one-third of Hong Kong's area and will later accommodate one-third of our population.
He stated that the government will enhance the speed and efficiency of developing the Northern Metropolis, the San Tin Technopole, and the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.
"With a focus on industry development and innovative technology, our goal is to attract scientific research talent from around the world and concentrate innovation resources," Lee added.
Lee also emphasized improving people's livelihood proactively and stressed that the government spared no effort in addressing land and housing, medical health, education and welfare issues.
That included accelerating the supply of public housing, ensuring the timely provision of Light Public Housing to meet pressing demand, as well as pushing the registration of compliant Basic Housing Units to replace substandard subdivided units.
The government will continue to deepen the reform of the healthcare system and improve public and primary healthcare services, the city leader added. "We will remain committed to the strategy of targeted poverty alleviation, focusing on directing resources to those most in need."
Lee concluded his speech by quoting a Chinese saying: "Is there anything too hard in the world? With determined efforts, a hard task becomes easy; otherwise, an easy job may become difficult".
He said the government would rather be reformers who rise to challenges than become complacent idlers. "I am confident the wisdom and experience of the people of Hong Kong will help our Pearl of the Orient shine brighter than ever on the world stage."
The government also held a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai this morning. Attendees included John Lee and his wife as well as senior government officials, former Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Leung Chun-ying and his wife, and Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and his wife.
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