In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, President Xi Jinping made an inspection trip to the city amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was my honor to partake in the celebration inaugurating the sixth-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and to receive President Xi’s landmark and inspirational speech. The speech was reassuring to Hong Kong residents and particularly uplifting when President Xi affirmed that “one country, two systems” is a credible principle that must remain unaltered.
President Xi’s important speech included “four musts” that will ensure the cause of “one country, two systems” steadily advances in the right direction. The “four proposals” stress high expectations for the new government, with all strata of Hong Kong and its leader to move away from disarray to good governance. Only then can we move to greater prosperity and break new ground to move forward in the next five years.
The “four musts” and “four proposals” to a policy research professional like me sets a bigger stage for my profession to play its role. It also means the entire “policy research ecosystem” is obliged to consider how to further contribute by better accommodating Hong Kong’s coming needs. This policy research ecosystem includes macro-level strategic research within the government, bureau studies within respective purviews, as well as university and professional policy research institutes.
President Xi made clear the “four proposals” come with high expectations of the new-term government in its exercise of meritorious governance. It’s my conviction that my profession can contribute to this new era only by optimizing the entire policy research ecosystem
The “four musts” lay out how (1) the more firmly the “one country” principle is upheld, the greater strength the “two systems” will be unleashed; (2) enforcing the central government’s overall jurisdiction dovetails with the fulfillment of a high degree of autonomy in the SARs; (3) governing power in the right hands will safeguard Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability; (4) Hong Kong’s close connection with the global market and strong support from the motherland are its distinctive advantages.
My policy studies passion comes from an aspiration to pull citizens out of their plight and expand opportunities for all. President Xi’s “four musts” provide for a stable environment and wider path for policy implementation, as well as a stronger need for professional policy research.
President Xi made clear the “four proposals” come with high expectations of the new-term government in its exercise of meritorious governance. It’s my conviction that my profession can contribute to this new era only by optimizing the entire policy research ecosystem.
President Xi’s first proposal reorients the SAR government to the need to have “a new outlook on the motherland and have an international vision in order to make better development plans for the region from an overall and long-term perspective.” My years of policy-study experience makes plain the need for a high-level policy research organization within the SAR government — akin to the former Central Policy Unit. This big-picture organization would proactively plan Hong Kong’s overall and long-term development. This organization should initiate contact and align with relevant policy research departments on the mainland such as the Central Policy Research Office, the State Council Research Office, the National Development and Reform Commission Policy Research Office, the Department of Policy and Research of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Research Department of the Liaison Office to effectively foster high-level policy studies.
President Xi’s second proposal requires Hong Kong to, “actively dovetail itself with the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and other national strategies such as the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.”
Dovetailing into the 14th Five-Year Plan requires stepping up coordination among all HKSAR government bureaus’ policy studies and extending links with local think tanks. It is also essential to strengthen alignments with central government department and commission policy research offices, such as the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology and the China Center for International Economic Exchanges under the National Development and Reform Commission. Similarly, greater interaction and communication within the GBA should be cultivated, especially with the Policy Research Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and municipal policy research offices in neighboring GBA cities — Shenzhen in particular. Simultaneously, cooperation between Hong Kong and GBA think tanks such as the China (Shenzhen) Development Institute should be boosted. Encouraging interaction between international Belt-and-Road-country think tanks and Hong Kong’s research organizations will help present a positive narrative of China.
President Xi’s third proposal demands the SAR government “adopt more efficient measures to overcome difficulties and forge ahead.” President Xi made multiple important guidelines on the establishment of think tanks over the years, proving the significance of think tanks in enhancing administrative competence. I am deeply convinced that innovative mindsets should permeate policies in all aspects to solve Hong Kong’s long-standing and deep-rooted problems. Our pursuit of breakthroughs and changes depends upon detailed analysis and studies. More interaction with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council’s Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies ensures that “all Hong Kong citizens share more fully and fairly in the fruits of development.”
President Xi’s fourth proposal affirms that harmony in a family brings success in everything, and that Hong Kong residents should “continue to follow the fine traditions of inclusiveness, seeking common ground while reserving differences”. Upon listening to President Xi’s down-to-earth speech, I believe a sound policy-research ecosystem effectively facilitates the adoption, integration and analysis of different voices, ideas and demands in society. Research joined with professional judgment provides the basis for creating a better society.
As a whole, the “four musts” and “four proposals” in President Xi’s speech are eight top-tier central government strategies to govern Hong Kong. Such clarity of action is conducive to the governance of the new-term SAR government. I hope all strata of Hong Kong will unite in the construction of a better policy-research ecosystem to tackle various deep-seated social problems to alleviate collective pain and for the betterment of Hong Kong.
The author is a Legislative Council member.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.