HONG KONG, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Wednesday that the central authorities will fully support measures conducive to maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, improving the well-being of Hong Kong residents, and promoting greater integration of Hong Kong into the overall development of the country.

Lam made the remarks while delivering the 2020 policy address.

In the past year, Hong Kong has experienced multiple blows, including the COVID-19 epidemic and the social unrest in the second half of 2019, that caused shrinking economy and rising unemployment rate. The promulgation of the national security law in the HKSAR on June 30 this year has restored stability in society, but the road to economic recovery is still fraught with difficulties, she said.

"On the other hand, we have seen a quick rebound in the economy of our country as a result of its vigorous efforts in putting the epidemic under control," she noted.

"Benefiting from its proximity to the mainland and the central authorities' long-standing support under the 'one country, two systems' principle, Hong Kong's economic development will be given new impetus," said Lam.

"It can continue to capitalize on its strengths to serve the country's needs with proactive participation in the domestic and international dual circulation as well as better integration into the overall national development."

Lam in early November held discussions with the relevant central authorities as well as the Guangdong provincial government on policy initiatives that will support Hong Kong's development and enhance the community's confidence in the future.

On promoting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the central authorities, in addition to the measures rolled out earlier such as tax concessions, facilitation of property purchase, support for young entrepreneurs, cross-boundary remittance of science and technology funding and liberalization of legal and construction professional services, will soon introduce further measures including permitting the use of Hong Kong-registered drugs and common medical devices in designated Hong Kong-owned healthcare institutions in the mainland cities of the GBA, relaxing the limitation on exporting mainland human genetic resources to Hong Kong for research purposes, facilitating Hong Kong private cars travelling to Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), and expediting the implementation of the cross-boundary wealth management connect scheme.

On consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial center, the central authorities support further deepening the mutual access between the mainland and Hong Kong financial markets and the gradual expansion of the scope of eligible securities under the mutual market access programs, and agree to accelerate the pace of the inclusion of pre-profit biotechnology companies listed in Hong Kong and stocks listed on the mainland Sci-Tech Innovation Board meeting certain prescribed criteria in the scope of eligible securities under the programs.

On consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub, the central authorities support the participation of the Hong Kong International Airport in the operation and development of the Zhuhai Airport through investment by way of share acquisition according to market principles, with a view to deepening the co-operation of the two airports in building a globally competitive world-class airport cluster.

On the development of an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub, the central authorities support the joint development of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong I&T Co-operation Zone, which comprises the Shenzhen I&T Zone and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park at the Lok Ma Chau Loop, with a view to establishing "one zone, two parks" at "one river, two banks" under the auspices of "one country, two systems."

On improving the infrastructure of land boundary control points between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the central authorities support the deepening of cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the enhancement of the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang control point, and the implementation of co-location arrangements at the new Huanggang control point in Shenzhen so as to release over 20 hectares of land at the Hong Kong control point for other uses.

"We will also explore with Shenzhen the enhancement of the Lo Wu control point in due course. Drawing on the experience of Hong Kong private cars travelling to Guangdong via the HZMB, we will explore the implementation of the same policy at other Hong Kong/Shenzhen land boundary control points," she said.

On facilitating Hong Kong enterprises to tap the mainland domestic market, the central authorities support the collaboration of the Guangdong province with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and relevant chambers of commerce in providing policy advisory, training and business matching services to Hong Kong enterprises, thereby enabling them to expand their domestic sale channels and establish interface with the e-commerce platforms in the mainland market.

On fighting against the epidemic, the central authorities support and request the HKSAR government to adopt all necessary measures to guard against the importation of cases and resurgence of domestic infections, with the aim of gradually resuming travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong in an orderly manner through mutual recognition of health codes when the epidemic situation in Hong Kong stabilizes.

The central authorities also support Hong Kong in ensuring the supply of COVID-19 vaccines and will reserve a certain amount of vaccines developed or produced in the mainland for use by Hong Kong residents when necessary.

Such strong policy support from the central authorities is conducive to Hong Kong's putting forward and implementing concrete measures in various areas, Lam said, adding that the HKSAR government will strengthen its communication and interface with relevant central ministries and the Guangdong provincial government, and set up task forces to take forward various initiatives.

"However, to drive forward the development of various sectors in Hong Kong, we need to comprehensively and accurately implement the principles of 'one country, two systems', 'Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong' and a high degree of autonomy," she said. Enditem

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