CE meets new Liaison Office Director (with photos)
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The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met the new Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG) and National Security Adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Zhou Ji, at Government House today (May 31). They exchanged views on a range of issues, including the opportunities and challenges of Hong Kong, and promoting the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Central Government for its continued support to and care for Hong Kong, driving and supporting Hong Kong’s transition from stability to prosperity. He extended his warm welcome to Mr Zhou on his new appointment. Mr Zhou had extensive experience in local governance and policy-making from a macroscopic perspective, having previously held such positions as Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, and Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Governor of the Henan Provincial Government.
Since taking office in July 2023 as the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhou has been participating in taking forward Hong Kong’s work under national development strategies. He is well acquainted with the national policies on Hong Kong and actively promoted the implementation of the Central Government’s policies benefitting Hong Kong. Last year, Mr Zhou led a delegation to visit Hong Kong and gain better insights into its economic development, providing his important views to the formulation of measures benefitting Hong Kong. He has also undertaken solid efforts to ensure the measures achieve optimal results.
Mr Lee said he is confident to work with Mr Zhou in actively aligning with national development strategies, as well as in implementing fully, faithfully and resolutely the principles of “one country, two systems” and “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” with a high degree of autonomy, maintaining the constitutional order of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law, implementing the “executive-led” structure and implementing the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, with a view to ensuring the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the steadfast and successful implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, and jointly expediting the development of Hong Kong from stability to prosperity.
During the session, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong is currently undergoing an economic transformation, and that the HKSAR Government will uphold fundamental principles while breaking new ground, endeavour to take forward reforms, and continue to lead all sectors of Hong Kong society to embrace changes and strive for innovation, actively exploring new areas of development and growth.
Mr Lee said he believes that under the leadership of Mr Zhou, the LOCPG will continue to support the HKSAR Government’s governance in accordance with the law. Noting that Mr Zhou is well acquainted with Hong Kong affairs, Mr Lee said that this will help Hong Kong better contribute to and benefit from its integration into national development, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative. The session was conducted in a cordial and productive atmosphere, with both Mr Lee and Mr Zhou sharing the common goal of expediting Hong Kong’s rise from stability to prosperity.