China News Service, Hong Kong, June 21st. Title: Hong Kong's first anniversary of the implementation of the National Security Law, Hong Kong's economy rebounds steadily

　　China News Agency reporter Liu Chenyao

　　Located on Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Xin Fung Kee Fish Ball Niu Shi Restaurant has been in business for more than 15 years.

Take your body temperature, scan the "Travel with peace of mind" app, and sit in the dining table separated by plastic panels. Before the lunch peak time at noon on the 20th, the diners took up their seats easily, and there was a waiting line at the door.

In the words of the restaurant manager Rong Jie, two years ago, this scene could not have been imagined.

　　In June 2019, the "dark storm" operations under the "Regulations Amendment Disturbance" often invaded the streets of Wan Chai.

"A large number of people have blocked the road and made trouble in the police station, which will definitely affect business. Pedestrians will not come here even if they are afraid of being affected." Now, Hong Kong’s National Security Law has been promulgated and implemented for nearly a year. There will be no worries before going out, even if it is a limited gathering requirement under the epidemic, as long as the business can proceed normally, the life will not be too bad.

Sister Rong expressed the aspirations of many Hong Kong operators. The business of the small shop has become prosperous, and it is like the epitome of Hong Kong's current economy.

　　On June 30, 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the Hong Kong National Security Law.

Prior to this, Hong Kong was experiencing the darkest moment of economic development: In 2019, GDP showed negative growth for the first time in ten years, unemployment rate rose rapidly, and the number of visitors to Hong Kong plummeted, causing the retail industry to suffer heavy losses.

　　One year later, in June 2021, the Statistics Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released several sets of data: GDP growth in the first quarter of 2021 was 7.9%, the total income of Hong Kong residents in the first quarter of 2021 increased by 9.0% year-on-year, and retail sales in April 2021 The value of total sales of the industry increased by 12.1% year-on-year. In April 2021, the value of Hong Kong's total exports and imports increased by 24.4% and 25.2% year-on-year respectively. The unemployment rate from March to May 2021 fell to 6%...

　　Behind the good news is the strength and determination of Hong Kong's economy to rebound strongly under the control of social stability and the epidemic.

　　"From 2019 to 2020, we have basically gone through a relatively difficult period, but the economic recession has actually changed a lot in the first quarter of this year." The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (Business and Economic Development Bureau) In an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency, Director Qiu Tenghua said that in the first three months of this year, not only did Hong Kong’s GDP grow by 7.9%, the growth brought by trade was the highest in the past ten years, reflecting Hong Kong’s role as a global The most open economy has played its role in promoting economic recovery.

　　E Zhihuan, chief economist of Bank of China Hong Kong, also affirmed this.

She believes that the Hong Kong society from chaos to governance has been able to maintain the momentum of external demand under the impact of the epidemic, which shows that Hong Kong's status as an international trade center is of great significance.

According to statistics from the World Trade Organization, Hong Kong will be the sixth largest exporter of goods in the world in 2020, and its ranking will rise two places from last year.

　　In addition, she also told a reporter from China News Agency that Hong Kong, as a leading international financial center, still has a great advantage in the efficiency of its capital market in allocating international capital.

At present, the market value of the Hong Kong stock market ranks third in Asia and fifth in the world, with 2,538 listed companies and a total market value of US$6.1 trillion.

In 2020, the amount of new shares raised on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange reached 51.3 billion U.S. dollars, ranking second in the world.

At the same time, Hong Kong will be the world's largest offshore RMB settlement center in 2020, accounting for approximately 75% of global RMB payment transactions.

　　Even so, E Zhihuan pointed out that the main driving factor of Hong Kong's economy in 2021 will still be external demand, and domestic demand needs to be further strengthened.

　　The reporter recently noticed in Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour City that this large shopping mall, which has always been favored by tourists, has now changed from the lack of a "revision storm" period, and it is full of crowds every weekend.

On the afternoon of the 20th, the well-known luxury brand Chanel's store pulled up the isolation belt early, and local consumers lined up here.

A female citizen surnamed Li was trying out a pink satchel. She told reporters that the epidemic situation in Hong Kong was getting better and she looked forward to returning to travel later. She could wear a brightly colored bag on her back, and she was in a good mood.

　　The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Chen Maobo, revealed on the 18th that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s HK$36 billion consumer voucher program will begin registration on July 4.

He hopes that this will encourage people's desire to consume and stimulate the recovery of the local economy.

　　Nearly 10 pm, Rong's restaurant is about to close. There are still two tables of guests in the store. In the past two months, as the epidemic has gradually subsided, the number of eating out has increased, and the store has basically resumed normal customer flow.

"We ordinary citizens, who don't want to work and live in a calm and safe environment?" After talking to the reporter, Sister Rong handed a bowl of packed sirloin to the man waiting for the takeaway at the door.

(Finish)