Xi Jinping’s letter to Hong Kong entrepreneurs ‘is wider name to help China’s improvement’ – Cyber Tech
Xi expressed his gratitude to the enterprise leaders for his or her ongoing help of their hometown and motherland by way of acts such because the constructing of companies and faculties.
He additionally acknowledged the group’s lively engagement in innovation, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and training.
Xi despatched the letter at a time when Hong Kong’s enterprise neighborhood is contending with an economic system nonetheless struggling to shake off the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lau Siu-kai, a guide with the Chinese language Affiliation of Hong Kong and Macau Research, a semi-official suppose tank, mentioned the message was a name for metropolis residents and Chinese language residing abroad to assist construct a affluent motherland to counter Western narratives.
“This expectation is especially significant as america and the West proceed to suppress the nice rejuvenation of the Chinese language nation,” he mentioned.
“When the nation faces a extreme worldwide surroundings, it’s notably pressing and essential for the Chinese language folks at dwelling and overseas to unite and contribute their very own efforts to advertise Chinese language-style modernisation.”
Lau mentioned enhanced funding into the mainland from Hong Kong entrepreneurs and help serving to companies within the north to go world may assist restore overseas traders’ confidence within the nation.
Such a push was particularly essential solely a month after the Chinese language Communist Occasion held its third plenum of the twentieth Occasion Congress, the place Beijing introduced its help for the personal sector to take the lead in main nationwide technological analysis duties.
Xi’s message additionally coincided with the fortieth anniversary of late Chinese language chief Deng Xiaoping’s name to mobilise the worldwide “Ningbo bang” – often shaped by retailers – to develop the port metropolis.
In Chinese language, bang means a cluster of people who find themselves bonded collectively by the identical targets and beliefs.
Lau mentioned the letter’s timing carried the refined which means that Xi was decided to proceed reforms and opening-up insurance policies pursued by Deng.
Ningbo is called an essential port and an industrial hub on the mainland and types a part of Zhejiang province, the place Xi served as social gathering secretary from 2002 to 2007.
Cliff Solar Kai-lit, vice-president of the Worldwide Ningbo Service provider Affiliation, mentioned the group hoped the nation may deepen sure initiatives amid the push for speedy improvement.
The affiliation’s president, William Lee Tak-lun, was among the many 10 enterprise leaders who penned the letter despatched to Xi.
“For instance, we suggest whether or not the high-speed rail can flip Ningbo right into a transit hub to maximise its perform within the nation’s reforms and opening up,” Solar mentioned.
Solar additionally responded to Xi’s name for better contributions to nationwide modernisation, saying the subsequent era of Hong Kong’s Ningbo bang would push for extra exchanges and cooperation between the 2 cities within the political and industrial sectors, akin to collaborating in innovation and expertise (I&T) initiatives.
Ning Po Residents Affiliation chairman John Fan Kau-cheung, one other signatory of the preliminary letter, mentioned the signatories had meant to thank the nation’s chief for his care and concern for Hong Kong.
He additionally agreed that Xi’s reply was meant for all Hong Kong residents and abroad Chinese language.
“The president’s reply really expressed his expectations for all of us, together with Hong Kong folks and abroad Chinese language, to work collectively in the direction of a powerful rejuvenation of our motherland,” Fan mentioned.
The affiliation chairman mentioned the organisation, which at the moment runs two native secondary faculties, would conduct extra trade actions with the mainland to foster patriotic values amongst college students and academics.
Andrew Fung Ho-keung, chief govt of the Hong Kong Coverage Analysis Institute, mentioned he believed Xi’s reply was encouragement for native entrepreneurs to be extra aggressive when investing in some nationwide initiatives akin to satellites or I&T initiatives.
“Xi’s reply additionally denotes a message that China’s opening-up coverage will stay unchanged and that our nation will proceed to welcome traders, together with each native and overseas ones. That’s the reason we’ve seen extra easing of journey restrictions for foreigners.”
Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, chairman and managing director of Solar Hung Kai Properties, mentioned he was inspired by Xi’s reply.
He famous that the corporate was the primary to return to its hometown for development initiatives within the early days of reform and opening up, and had by no means stepped away all through the method.
“Because the nation’s reform continues to advance and the door to opening up opens wider, Solar Hung Kai Properties will proceed to implement the overall secretary’s directions with sensible actions, leverage its personal benefits to serve the wants of the nation, and present better duty in contributing to the high-quality improvement of the motherland,” he mentioned.
New World Growth mentioned Xi’s letter confirmed particular take care of Hong Kong’s enterprise neighborhood, vowing to fulfil its duty amid unprecedented inner and exterior challenges.
“Within the technique of the nation’s development of Chinese language-style modernisation, we in Hong Kong’s enterprise neighborhood have an obligation to fulfil our historic duties, give full play to our distinctive benefits, and preserve Hong Kong’s hard-won stability and prosperity,” it mentioned.
Jonathan Choi Koon-sum, chairman of the Chinese language Basic Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, mentioned the native enterprise neighborhood ought to undertake the mindset that the town was an integral a part of the Better Bay Space when pursuing alternatives.
“Should you speak about manufacturing and the event of technological innovation industries, you possibly can’t do it with out Shenzhen and the Better Bay Space, so we should always be part of forces, we should always be part of a ship and go to sea,” he mentioned.
Further reporting by Kahon Chan