Chief Executive John Lee today met National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) Party Secretary & Chairman Zheng Shanjie in Beijing to discuss the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s proactive integration into the national development.

While calling on the NDRC, Mr Lee thanked them for supporting Hong Kong’s efforts in consolidating and realising its development of the “eight centres” under the 14th Five-Year Plan, and the city's participation in national strategies such as the Greater Bay Area development and the Belt & Road Initiative. 

The commission's support has facilitated the city’s better integration into the national development, providing a new and greater contribution to the country’s high-quality development, Mr Lee added.

The Chief Executive noted that the Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s development of the “eight centres” to provide impetus for the city’s competitiveness and sustainable economic growth.

He pointed out that the Government strives to develop a “headquarters economy” to explore the immense opportunities brought about by the national and international dual circulation, capitalising on and unleashing the city’s advantages in financial services, and deepening mutual access with the Mainland’s financial market.

It also strives to expand Hong Kong's global economic and trade networks and promote regional co-operation as well as adopt an industry-oriented approach to promote new industrialisation, while showcasing the Hong Kong Innovation & Technology Development Blueprint.

The Government will capitalise on the city’s advantages as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange to actively promote the development of cultural and creative industries.

Mr Lee highlighted that the Hong Kong SAR Government has published the Northern Metropolis Action Agenda, which adopts an industry-driven approach as its key planning axle in forging Hong Kong’s deeper integration into the bay area’s overall development.

He added that the Northern Metropolis development will facilitate Hong Kong's closer co-operation with other bay area cities, creating a strong growth impetus for Hong Kong and injecting new vigour into the entire GBA’s development.

Mr Lee emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government renders its full support to the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone promulgated by the central government. 

It will work with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to foster the synergistic development of the Hong Kong Park and the Shenzhen Park to achieve complementarity, he added.

Mr Lee departed for Hong Kong this afternoon.