China News Service, Hong Kong, February 26 (Reporter Liu Dawei) Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Li Jiachao said on the 26th that the central government is full of confidence in Hong Kong’s bright future.

Hong Kong will continue to uphold its status as an international city and seize its unique advantages of "backing on the motherland and connecting the world" under "one country, two systems".

  On the same day, Xia Baolong, director of the Central Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, held a symposium with about 40 representatives of local and foreign chambers of commerce at the SAR government headquarters. After the symposium, Li Jiachao made the above remarks when meeting reporters.

  Li Jiachao said that one of the main purposes of the research team’s visit to Hong Kong is to understand the latest situation of Hong Kong’s economic development. In the past few days, the research team has widely listened to the opinions of business representatives, representatives of the financial sector and other different sectors. This represents the central government’s consistent commitment to Hong Kong society. care and support.

  Li Jiachao said that the symposium that day lasted about one and a half hours, and many topics were discussed at the meeting, including economic development, how to integrate into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the mainland market, and the development of tourism.

  He pointed out that the research team attaches great importance to Hong Kong's status as an international city and listens to the opinions of local and foreign chambers of commerce. This is because most of the chambers of commerce and their members have been in Hong Kong for many years and have established a solid foundation to understand Hong Kong's economic situation and business environment. , and the future direction of the global economy.

Hong Kong will adhere to its status as an international city, continue to leverage its advantages as an international city, and grasp the unique advantages of "backing on the motherland and connecting the world" under "one country, two systems".

  Li Jiachao said that in fact, Hong Kong has a solid institutional foundation and core advantages.

Hong Kong is at the forefront of the world in professional services such as finance, commerce, and shipping. It is also the only common law jurisdiction in China. It has its own legal system. The judiciary has independent jurisdiction and final adjudication power, making Hong Kong legally different from other jurisdictions. It is fully connected with major international business societies and serves as a bridge between the mainland and the world as a "super contact person" and "super value-added person".

  Li Jiachao gave an example. Last year, Hong Kong was ranked first in the global investment environment, first in the Asia-Pacific region and second in the world for corporate operating environment; total deposits increased by 5.1% year-on-year; the number of start-ups increased by more than 270 year-on-year to nearly 4,300, setting a record new highs.

In addition, the number of overseas and mainland companies establishing or expanding business in Hong Kong through the SAR government's Invest Hong Kong also increased significantly by 27% year-on-year; the investment amount of these companies in Hong Kong exceeded HK$61.6 billion, nearly three times the previous year.

These figures show that local and foreign companies have confidence in Hong Kong.

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