HKGCC Chairman Betty Yuen (the fifth from left), HKGCC Deputy Chairman Anges Chan (the fourth from left), HKGCC’s LegCo Representative Jeffery Lam, (the sixth from left), along with representatives of business chambers in Hong Kong, in the Friday press conference on the HKGCC business delegation’s visit to Beijing. (OSWALD CHAN / CHINA DAILY)

The central government has given its assurances that the “one country, two systems” principle remains unchanged, and has indicated that it expects Hong Kong to better integrate into national development strategies while the country pursues high-quality opening-up, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said.

On Nov 9-10, the HKGCC led a high-level business delegation to Beijing, where it visited various government departments and met with Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the State Council.

The HKGCC — the city’s oldest business chamber representing multinational companies operating in Hong Kong — hosted its press conference on the HKGCC business delegation’s visit to Beijing on Friday in Hong Kong

HKGCC chairman Betty Yuen reported that mainland officials had said they are optimistic about the Chinese mainland's economy and the future development of Hong Kong. “The officials also repeatedly assured (us) that the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ would remain unchanged. I believe (this) has strengthened the business community's confidence in long-term development.”

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Yuen also said that President Xi Jinping’s meeting with US President Biden at the recent APEC summit signified that both parties realize that stable Sino-US relations are in the best interests of both countries. “I believe as Sino-US relations are expected to stabilize, (we can feel more optimistic about) the prospects. Looking forward, there will be more cooperation between the two parties in the future.”

The HKGCC — the city’s oldest business chamber representing multinational companies operating in Hong Kong — hosted its press conference on the HKGCC business delegation’s visit to Beijing on Friday in Hong Kong, along with representatives from other overseas business chambers.

HKGCC deputy chairman Agnes Chan added: “What the country values is not Hong Kong's economic aggregate, but the role played by Hong Kong's finance, talents, logistics, professional and other fields.”

“As the central government will unswervingly support Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and has full confidence (in) Hong Kong’s development, the ‘one country, two systems’ advantage is supported by the business community,” Chan said.

She added that Xia had said that “he hopes Hong Kong will actively integrate into the overall development of the country, especially the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, when the country strives to elevate the level of high-quality opening-up.”

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Jeffrey Lam, the Legislative Council representative of the HKGCC, said that Xi's recent visit to the US will help enhance the business community's confidence in Hong Kong's prospects, and he hopes that Hong Kong's economy will benefit from the improvement in Sino-US relations and the city’s integration into the overall development of the country.

German Chamber of Commerce president Johannes Hack said that “Hong Kong is special in its name and nature, and it needs to perceive (itself as) special so that Hong Kong retains its role. … Only by recognizing the difference between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland can the world appreciate the value of Hong Kong.” 

Inaki Amate, chairman of European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said that it is Hong Kong’s diversity that has made it an internationally vibrant hub.