(25th Anniversary of the Return of Hong Kong) "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen: "One Country, Two Systems" makes Hong Kong stronger and stronger

　　China News Agency, Hong Kong, June 22, title: "Father of Lan Kwai Fong" Sheng Zhiwen: "One Country, Two Systems" makes Hong Kong stronger and stronger

　　China News Agency reporter Wei Huadu

　　"In the past 25 years, I have seen Hong Kong getting stronger and stronger. 'One country, two systems' is a new thing. No other country in the world can accomplish the same thing." and how he felt about the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

The picture shows Sheng Zhiwen walking through Lan Kwai Fong.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Luo Siyu

　　In the late 1960s, Sheng Zhiwen, who was only 19 years old, was engaged in the clothing industry in Canada. He imported Hong Kong garments to Canada for sale.

However, in the 1960s and 1970s, Hong Kong's textile industry was booming, coupled with the advantages of low tax rates, Sheng Zhiwen decided to start a new business in Hong Kong.

　　"There are a lot of factories in the city, the people in the city are very busy, and there are a lot of British people living here, and the British speak English with an accent, which is not the same as where I grew up, but it's interesting." When talking about how he felt when he first set foot in Hong Kong, Zhiwen said: "I enjoy everything here. You can realize all your ideas here. When I was in Canada, I only served the market there; in Hong Kong, I will serve the world."

The data picture shows a bar in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Zhihua

　　After living in Hong Kong for a period of time, Sheng Zhiwen found that it is different from other international cities, and there is no characteristic bar street for people to gather.

So, in the early 1980s, he opened a restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong, Central, which was very popular with locals and foreigners. He later bought other properties there and became the major owner of Lan Kwai Fong. It has developed into a hot spot for bars, specialty western restaurants and nightlife.

Lan Kwai Fong became famous because of this, and he was also awarded the title of "Father of Lan Kwai Fong".

　　Sheng Zhiwen went to Changsha City, Hunan Province to do business in his early years, and began to know China from there.

　　"It's a very special country, and I've watched it modernize, it's grown, and the lives of my employees there have gotten better," he said. "Shenzhen became a special economic zone, and it's now the best in the world. One of the cities; Pudong becoming the financial center of Shanghai, these things seemed impossible at the time, but they did happen. And I participated in it and was one of the witnesses.”

　　For more than 40 years, he has frequently traveled to and from Hong Kong and the Mainland, and his family is here. He has long regarded Hong Kong as his home.

In 2008, he renounced his Canadian citizenship and became a Chinese citizen, and obtained a Hong Kong SAR passport and a home return permit.

　　In the interview, he expressed his views on the 25 years since the handover of Hong Kong.

　　"Under 'One Country, Two Systems', one of Hong Kong's strengths is the independence of the judiciary. Like many parts of the world, Hong Kong's common law practice has won the trust of foreign companies, which will help continue to flourish in the financial market and attract top foreign talents and companies. He continued: "Hong Kong has gone through a lot of changes, and in my opinion, it will continue to be strong. As an international financial center trusted by global businesses, we can really integrate into it."

File photo of Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Wei

　　He also said: "Hong Kong is very important to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is very close to key cities such as Shenzhen, Macau and Guangzhou. In the future, talents from all over the world will come to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to make the Greater Bay Area active. ."

　　Speaking of Hong Kong's 25-year practice of "one country, two systems", Sheng Zhiwen said: "Today, Hong Kong is one of the safest places in the world, which is why we all like it. I believe Hong Kong will be more prosperous and stable." (End )