Premier Li Keqiang said yesterday that the central government has “every confidence that Hong Kong and Macau will develop and thrive together with the mainland.”

Li made the remarks when delivering his annual government work report to the opening meeting of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing.

“We will support Hong Kong and Macau in integrating their own development into the overall national development,” Li said, adding that the central government will boost exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and the two special administrative regions.

The premier also said that the central government “will continue to implement, both to the letter and in spirit, the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, and act in strict compliance with [the national] Constitution and the basic laws” of Hong Kong and Macau.
Li stressed that the governments and chief executives of the two regions “have our full support in exercising law-based governance and in their efforts to achieve strong economic growth, improve living standards, progressively advance democracy, and promote social harmony.”

The premier underlined that “over the past five years, fresh progress has been made in work related to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan,” adding that the implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle “has been enriched and developed.”

Li noted that construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge has been completed, “and Hong Kong and Macau have thrived and remained stable”.

Premier Li Keqiang delivers his government work report at the opening meeting of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. – Xinhua

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