The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today held the first of two seminars on the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee at the Central Government Offices.

The CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office and the State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office have invited two members of the central authorities' publicity delegation to speak in Hong Kong about the session's spirit.

The two delegates are President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Hou Jianguo, and Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial & Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of the CPC Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs Zhu Weidong.

Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and Zhou Ji, who is Deputy Director of the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR, delivered speeches at the seminar.

Mr Hou and Mr Zhu both gave presentations on the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session and the key aspects of the “Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development”. They also responded to questions raised by participants. Mr Lee delivered concluding remarks.

Mr Lee said the Fourth Plenary Session was an important meeting convened at a critical juncture, occurring after the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and during the preparatory period for the 15th Five-Year Plan.

“Studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee well is a major task for us,” he said.

Highlighting that the world is undergoing accelerated transformations unseen in a century, he said such transformations often come with opportunities. He said the CPC Central Committee's Recommendations focus on high-quality development, achieving self-reliance and strength in science and technology through the cultivation of new quality productive forces, and promoting high-level opening up, all of which brings historical opportunities for Hong Kong.

“We must gain a deep understanding of the guiding ideology, major principles, as well as the objectives and tasks, for the economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year period, assist Hong Kong in solidly advancing various measures for its economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year period, actively align with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, comprehensively promote the development of finance and innovation and technology as dual engines, engage in broader and closer exchanges and co-operation around the globe, and actively integrate into and serve the overall strategy of national development.”

In his address, Mr Zhou said that the first seminar held by the central authorities' publicity delegates was deliberately targeted at the Hong Kong SAR's governance team, demonstrating the central government's high regard for the Chief Executive and his team, its deep concern for Hong Kong, and its strong support for the city's development.

He highlighted that the Fourth Plenary Session comprises top-level, strategic plans for the country's development over the next five years, and also provides clear guidance for Hong Kong's economic and social development.

He expressed his belief that the seminar would strengthen Hong Kong's confidence in benefitting from the achievements of national development, allow it to better recognise opportunities from the current situation, grasp more accurately the content of the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, fully leverage the institutional strengths of “one country, two systems” and the unique advantages of connecting the Mainland and the world, promote Hong Kong's fuller integration into and service to China's overall national development, and continue to open up new horizons for high-quality development.

Mr Zhu provided a systematic and in-depth interpretation of the significance of the Fourth Plenary Session, tasks for national economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year period, and the guiding principles and main objectives for the nation's economic and social development.

He elaborated on the seven major objectives to be prioritised during the 15th Five-Year period, namely significant achievements in high-quality development; substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength; fresh breakthroughs in further deepening comprehensive reforms; notable cultural and ethical progress across society; further improvements in quality of life; major new strides in advancing the “Beautiful China Initiative”; and further advances in strengthening the national security shield.

He stressed that the formulation and implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan will inject strong development momentum into Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong should better integrate into the overall national development and participate in national strategies such as the development of the Greater Bay Area.

Mr Hou introduced the major measures to advance Chinese modernisation during the 15th Five-Year period. These include building a modernised industrial system; achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology; building a robust domestic market; moving faster to develop a high-standard socialist market economy; promoting high-standard opening up; accelerating agricultural and rural modernisation; promoting co-ordinated regional development; fostering a thriving socialist culture; working harder to ensure and improve public well-being; accelerating the green transition in all areas of economic and social development; modernising China's national security system and capacity; and promoting high-quality modernisation in the field of national defence and the armed forces.

With regard to plans set out in the Recommendations regarding scientific and technological innovation and Hong Kong's development as an innovation hub, he suggested that the city leverage its own strengths and advantages, strengthen forward-looking and pioneering basic research, expand the development application scenarios, and establish itself as a hub for high-calibre talent and as an open platform for global scientific and technological co-operation.

About 500 people attended today's seminar. They included principal officials of the Hong Kong SAR Government, as well as representatives of the Executive Council, the Legislative Council and the Judiciary, and heads of major statutory bodies.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will hold a second seminar on the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee tomorrow at 9.30am. Arrangements have been made for Radio Television Hong Kong and the government website to broadcast the seminar live in full for citizens to listen and watch.