Premier Li Keqiang on Dec 23 said that the central government fully acknowledges the work of the chief executive and government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), during a meeting in Beijing with Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who was in town to report his work in 2016 and the current development of Hong Kong.

In the complicated and changing international context, the HKSAR government made proactive and pragmatic efforts to maintain stable economic growth and low unemployment in Hong Kong, encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and make progress in coordination with national development strategies, exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong, and international cooperation, according to the Premier.

Premier Li said that the central government will stick to the policies of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy, and will fully support the administration of HKSAR government and the chief executive on the basis of the Constitution as well as the Basic Law of Hong Kong.

The central government will continue to introduce policies to support the development of Hong Kong and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong, he added.

He hopes that HKSAR government will make the best of its role as a service platform of the nation’s “bring-in” and “going global” strategies and take the opportunity of the nation’s 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting Hong Kong’s role in the nation’s economic development and opening up, he said.

The Premier also stressed that efforts should be made to stabilize the economic and financial situation and improve people’s lives in Hong Kong.

He believes that with the central government’s support, HKSAR government and the people of Hong Kong will have the wisdom to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and make joint progress and development with the mainland, he said.

Premier Li Keqiang meets with Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in Beijing on Dec 23. [Photo/China News Service]

Leung said that with the central government’s concern and support, HKSAR government focused on economic development and improvement of people’s lives and maintained stable growth and low unemployment in Hong Kong.

HKSAR government will coordinate with the nation’s 13th Five-Year Plan and the Belt and Road Initiative, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and maintain prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, he said.

State Councilors Yang Jing and Yang Jiechi also attended the meeting.