Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, delivers a speech during the event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, in Beijing, on Dec 22, 2023. (PHOTO / HONG KONG AND MACAO WORK OFFICE OF THE CPC CENTRAL COMMITTEE)

Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, called for greater solidarity within Hong Kong’s society under the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong", in a bid to forge a wider coalition to support the "one country, two systems" principle and fully unleash the city’s creativity and vitality.

He made his remarks during an event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies in Beijing. In Hong Kong, high-level government officials along with the newly elected district councilors heard Xia’s speech as it was broadcast online.

Xia said that after hearing HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s work report on the region’s latest developments, President Xi Jinping reiterated the central government's firm stance on adhering to the "one country, two systems" principle, which has greatly boosted Hong Kong society’s confidence

Xia said that after hearing HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s work report on the region’s latest developments, President Xi Jinping reiterated the central government's firm stance on adhering to the "one country, two systems" principle, which has greatly boosted Hong Kong society’s confidence and flagged the way ahead for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to achieve greater development.

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Following the success of the seventh District Council Ordinary Election, there is a solid institutional guarantee that "patriots administering Hong Kong" will be fully implemented, Xia said. Now is the right time to transform the institutional advantages of "patriots administering Hong Kong" into tangible governance outcomes, he added.

Addressing the role of the district councils in grassroots governance, Xia urged the councilors-elect to fulfill their responsibilities with determination. He called on the district councilors to serve the needs of Hong Kong residents and to act as assistants to the SAR government and as problem solvers for the community. 

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By effectively responding to residents' concerns and bridging the gap between the government and residents, councilors can build trust and support through their dedicated service and practical actions, he added.

Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, delivers a speech during the event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, in Beijing, on Dec 22, 2023. (PHOTO / HONG KONG AND MACAO WORK OFFICE OF THE CPC CENTRAL COMMITTEE)

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (first row, center); Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki (first row, third right); Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po (first row, second right); Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Zheng Yanxiong (first row, third left); Head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Dong Jingwei (first row, second left); Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR Li Yongsheng (first row, first left), together with other principal officials of the HKSAR government and all incoming chairmen and members of the seventh-term District Councils, watch the live broadcast of an event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, in the Central Government Offices, Hong Kong, on Dec 22, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Xia also highlighted the shared aspiration of all Hong Kong residents for a better future and a higher quality of life. He called on all sectors, groups, and individuals to unite with a shared spirit of patriotism and a deep affection for Hong Kong, and to forge a wider coalition supporting "one country, two systems”.

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Compared with the collective welfare of the city and the nation, the interests of any individual, enterprise, school, unit or organization are of minor significance and must be subordinated to the greater interests, Xia said. 

Political groups and associations should prioritize the overall interests of the city and the nation and give full support to the chief executive and the SAR government in their law-based administration. They should also do their utmost to fight against anti-China disruptors and mobilize their respective members to build a better Hong Kong, Xia said.