China's new development plan means opportunities for HK
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Peng Qinghua, Director of the Liaison Office of the Chinese Central People's Government in Hong Kong, expressed hopes that the social sectors of the city could be united as one to write a new chapter for Hong Kong's development, by taking full advantage of the nation's 12th Five-Year Program (2011-2015).
Speaking at a Chinese New Year reception hosted by the Liaison Office on Tuesday evening, Peng said the realization of the objectives outlined in the 12th Five-Year Program needed active participation of Hong Kong, and would bring new and hefty opportunities for the development of Hong Kong.
During the 12th Five-Year Program period, the central government will list the development of the service industry as a strategic point in optimizing and upgrading the industrial restructuring.
Hong Kong, whose output value of the service industry accounts for above 90 percent of its total economy, is expected to play a bigger role in this regard using its rich experience and abundance in talents.
Regarding the national strategy of regional development in the next five years, Peng said Hong Kong will surely play a leading role in the cooperation among Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao and in the development of the Pearl River Delta.
Peng said Hong Kong will also have enormous business opportunities and achieve big successes as the mainland adheres to the strategy of expanding domestic demands, especially consumer demand, to raise its domestic market in the next five years. ' The official also said Hong Kong will continue serving as a platform and a bridge in the course when the nation participates in the global economic governance and cooperation in the five years.
According to Peng, Hong Kong has paid great attention to the making of the national 12th Five-Year Program, and the central government will take into full consideration opinions of people in Hong Kong.
"The elaboration concerning Hong Kong's function and economic cooperation with the mainland will be more accurate, more specific and more comprehensive," he said.
Peng said the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, will meet and deliberate the 12th Five-Year Program next month.
Some 4,500 people attended the reception. Among them were Tung Chee-hwa, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, among others.
