HONG KONG - Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed his gratitude to President Xi Jinping Thursday for his reply to a group of Hong Kong entrepreneurs of Ningbo descent who had written to him.

Lee said Xi's letter conveyed his "recognition and warm encouragement to the entrepreneurs for inheriting their ancestors' fine tradition of patriotism, as well as for their contributions to the development of their home town and the country".

Descendants of the pioneering generation of Ningbo-born Hong Kong entrepreneurs, including Anna Pao Pui-hing and Chao Kee-young, recently wrote to President Xi to report on their efforts in carrying on the fine traditions of their ancestors and supporting national development, expressing their ongoing commitment to contribute to the modernization of the country.

READ MORE: Xi encourages Hong Kong entrepreneurs to integrate into national reform

Ningbo is well-known for its large number of overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, like shipping magnate Pao Yue-kong, the late father of Anna Pao Pui-hing, and Run Run Shaw, media mogul and philanthropist.

Lee added that Xi's reply was deeply encouraging and inspiring, particularly for Hong Kong entrepreneurs of Ningbo descent and those from other parts of the country, reinforcing their confidence and determination to build on past successes and break new ground while upholding fundamental principles, so that they could continue leveraging their strengths to serve and contribute to their home town and the country.

READ MORE: Xi: China supports long-term prosperity of Hong Kong, Macao

Lee stressed that the HKSAR government would continue to unite Hong Kong's patriotic forces and encourage them to fully utilize their expertise to better integrate into the overall development of the country. 

During his tenure in Zhejiang, Xi repeatedly expressed care and expectations for overseas entrepreneurs from Ningbo on multiple occasions. Between October 2002 and March 2007, Xi served as deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhejiang Provincial Committee, acting governor of Zhejiang province, and secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee.