Following the meeting with Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) yesterday (February 8), the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, held an engagement session with 90 Hong Kong members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) via video conferencing today (February 9) to exchange views on such topics as the developments of Hong Kong and the Mainland before they attend the meetings of the NPC and the CPPCC to be held in Beijing next month. Members of the CPPCC spoke enthusiastically during the meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, and Mrs Lam listened attentively to their views on various areas, including their concerns about vaccination and expectations for early resumption of travel between people in the two places and local economic activities. She stressed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will spare no effort in fighting the epidemic and taking forward the vaccination programme.

     Noting that how Hong Kong is integrated into the overall development of the nation is a crucial issue, with the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative to bring enormous opportunities to Hong Kong, she said that it is of paramount importance to Hong Kong's future, particularly with regard to youth development. She expressed the hope that Hong Kong members of the CPPCC will work together with the HKSAR Government to strive for the support of the Central Authorities as well as the co-operation of the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government to explore more room for Hong Kong's development.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, also attended the session.

Ends/Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Issued at HKT 21:57

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