Dr. Ken Chu: HK positioned to play a pivotal role in China's latest modernization push

The third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee heralds a new era of opportunities for Hong Kong, according to Dr. Ken Chu, a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and chairman of Mission Hills Group.

Dr. Ken Chu

The recent passing of a momentous resolution during the session, aimed at deeply reforming and propelling Chinese modernization comprehensively, marks a crucial juncture for the nation's ongoing rejuvenation efforts, underlining its paramount significance, as shared by Dr. Ken Chu.

“This meeting marks a milestone, creating significant opportunities for our fellow Hong Kong citizens to integrate into the overall development of the country,” Dr. Ken Chu said.

China, the world's second-largest economy, has a significant impact on both domestic and global landscapes due to its comprehensive push towards modernization, he said.

The mainland provides a sturdy foundation and bolster for Hong Kong's growth trajectory, with the special administrative region actively contributing to the nation's reform and opening-up endeavors, according to Dr. Ken Chu.

Guided by the resolution, Hong Kong should seize the emerging opportunities and make good use of its distinct advantages to assume a more significant role in the fresh wave of comprehensive reforms, Dr. Ken Chu said.

In propelling the modernization agenda with characteristic Chinese elements, Hong Kong can persist in its role as the pivotal "super-connector," bridging the mainland to the global arena, he said.

Leveraging its alignment with international legal frameworks and regulations, Hong Kong can facilitate enhanced business engagement in both outbound and inbound activities, he said.

The plenary session reaffirmed China's unwavering commitment to advancing the paths of reform and opening-up, with a vision to foster a more open economy through heightened levels of reciprocal openness. The recent implementation of a "transit visa-free" policy for certain countries has sparked discussions on social media about "foreigners traveling in China." This demonstrates China's openness in international tourism and highlights the success of the nation's reform and opening-up initiatives to the world, he said.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) boasts significant advantages in its high-level openness to the world, encompassing not only trade but also cultural, tourism, and sporting exchanges. Hong Kong can create more platforms that expand cross-border interactions and share the evolving narrative of the GBA and China with a global audience. This will help project a credible and respectable image of China [on the international stage], he said.