It was the National Day yesterday.From the Golden Bauhinia Square where the flag-raising ceremony was held early in the morning to the two sides of the Victoria Harbour where resplendent fireworks were displayed in the evening, and in each district, shopping plaza and park, everywhere was permeated with a festive atmosphere.The nation is making progress in every undertaking, while harmony and development is being gradually restored in Hong Kong society. For this, Hong Kong citizens feel gratified and happy from the bottom of their hearts.
At the National Day reception hosted by the SAR Government yesterday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor delivered an address entitled HK to Reach Greater Heights. In her address, she remarked on the astonishing change in the nation's development based on her own personal experience in past nearly 40 year - from her first visit to the Motherland as a student in an exchange programme till the recent three months after her taking the CE office. More importantly, she once again illustrated the truth that the Motherland gives Hong Kong a strong backing and strength to rise to challenges. At the same time, she also made the appeal that Hong Kong must focus on development and stand united to advance bravely.
The nation's development is indeed epoch-making, particularly in past five years great strides have been made in all undertakings. Of this, all Chinese nationals feel proud. Such an all-dimensional high-speed development no doubt has brought Hong Kong enormous opportunities.Nevertheless, with such an advantage envied by other regions, Hong Kong's development in recent years has fallen far behind the general national situation. Hong Kong has no lack of development opportunities and no lack of policy support at the national level, but how come it has remained stagnant?
Just as a point of focus in public opinion, what Hong Kong lacks is the social atmosphere of solidarity, the social atmosphere of concentrating on development. Politically, there is heavy infighting. In the Legislative Council (Legco) there is filibustering, while on streets there are demonstrations and conflicts every day not to mention the clamour raised and damages caused by extremely radical "localist" and "Hong Kong independence" elements. Construction projects to integrate Hong Kong with the Mainland are obstructed and normal exchanges jeopardised.Even such a measure for the convenience and benefit of the people as the co-location arrangement [for border checks] for the Express Rail Link is being ill-intentionally thwarted. There is a severe lack of mutual trust in society, where was even once permeated with a ruthless and violent atmosphere. If all this is not completely changed, Hong Kong can hardly develop let along catch up.
Fortunately, with the Central Government's incessant strong support, Hong Kong is gradually putting an end to the appalling situation and returning to the right track of harmony and development.In particular, President Xi's personal inspection in Hong Kong during July 1 has brought strong support and encouragement as well as various substantial beneficial measures to Hong Kong. From the Belt and Road initiative to the "Greater Bay Area" plan, from facilitating exchanges to helping Hong Kong residents seek career development in the Mainland, Hong Kong once again greets golden opportunities for development, and the long-absent social atmosphere of seeking development comes back to Hong Kong society.
Facts once again prove that either in the past, at present or in future, the nation always remains Hong Kong's strong backing, which gives Hong Kong not only strength to ride out storms and overcome challenges, but also opportunities to probe for new direction of development, to find new driving force for development and to cultivate new space for development. The problem is: Can Hong Kong overcome difficulties, eliminate the disgusting factor of "pan-politicalization", make good use of Hong Kong's innate advantages, identify the correct direction and grasp opportunities before it?
Wang Zhimin, the new Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR, earlier called on all sectors to keep the current good situation developing, bring Hong Kong's unique advantages into full play, and make the best of the strategic situation of national development. Opportunity knocks but once. The next five years could be said crucial for Hong Kong to remedy its chronic illness and rouse itself to catch up. As long as all sectors can stand united to advance bravely, Hong Kong is bound to create brilliance again and to bring citizens a more beautiful life.
02 October 2017
