SAR needs to reconnect with world: liaison chief

China is the biggest stage for Hong Kong dream chasers as the SAR's room for prosperity is limitless as long as it moves forward together with the motherland, says the new Liaison Office director, Zheng Yanxiong, in his Lunar New Year message yesterday.

Zheng, 59, the former director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, succeeded Luo Huining, 68, as the head of Beijing's top representative office in the SAR.

In a 12-minute video, Zheng said Hong Kong has to cherish the hard-earned order and strengthen its power in advancing to prosperity.

Zheng said the SAR has to seize the great opportunities of Chinese-style modernization to boost its prosperity.

He said organizations like the International Monetary Fund have predicted that China's economic growth will make a larger contribution to the world's economic recovery after the country adjusted its anti-Covid policy.

"The vast land in the country for development, the huge consumer market and the continued innovation powers have provided a wide stage for dream chasers from Hong Kong to show their talents," Zheng said.

He said Hong Kong would have endless room for prosperity and the confidence and strength to fight challenges as long as it moves forward together with the country and plans its future along with the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

To strengthen the city's prosperity, he said Hong Kong has to actively participate in exchange and cooperation with the world.

"The border reopening that people have been hoping for a long time has been accomplished recently and the exchange and cooperation with the mainland in various sectors are resuming," he said.

Zheng said Hong Kong needs to add momentum in the new stage to show its unique advantages. Apart from consolidating its traditional advantages as an international finance, maritime and trading center, the SAR also has to develop new strengths as an international innovation and technology center, as well as an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange.

Zheng said society's consensus for seeking stability and development has been getting stronger in Hong Kong.

"We have to cherish the order which has not come easily, and to firmly safeguard the SAR's constitutional order established by the country's constitution and the SAR's Basic Law. We have to firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests," Zheng said.

The next five years was the crucial period for China in building it into a modern socialist country. The Liaison Office would continue to fully support Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and the SAR government to administer the city in accordance with the law.

Lee later said on Facebook that with the border reopening, Hong Kong has to "bear more responsibilities and to make better moves" in seizing opportunities under the country's development.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com