HK, Macao to be better integrated into national development

China pledges to better the mechanism for Hong Kong and Macao to integrate into the nation's development plan, according to a draft outline of its next five-year plan and long-term objectives submitted for the national legislature for deliberation on Friday.

The draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development and the long-range objectives through the year 2035 designated a chapter for the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

The central government will support Hong Kong and Macao to participate and facilitate the "Belt and Road" initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the outline noted.

It will deepen cooperation between the two regions and the Chinese mainland on trade, innovation and technology and connectivity of financial markets, the outline said.

For Hong Kong, it will support the city to buttress its role as the international financial, shipping, trade and aviation hubs, as well as off-shore renminbi trade hub and international capital and risk management centers.

It will also assist Macao in expanding its capacity to build itself into a world tourism and leisure center, as well as a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

It will strive to improve policies for residents of the special administrative regions to live and work on the Chinese mainland, as well as support exchanges and cooperation among the SARs and other parts of the nation, the draft said.

In the meantime, education on the Constitution, basic laws of the regions and the nation's situation will be boosted to enhance a sense of national identity and patriotism among residents of the two regions, it continued.

The outline said the central government will spare no efforts to fully and accurately implement the principle of "one country, two systems", under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and the people of Macao administer Macao, both with a high degree of autonomy.

It will also resolutely prevent and contain external interference in Hong Kong and Macao affairs, as well as enhance a full implementation of the overall jurisdiction of the central government over the SARs by ensuring the implementation of the laws and enforcement mechanisms for the two regions to safeguard national security.