The Government Work Report presented at the Annual Session of the National People's Congress has always dedicated a special section for Hong Kong and Macao. Together with the Taiwan section that immediately follows, their position in the report always comes after national defense and before diplomacy. It is not difficult to see that this is a special arrangement to resonate with the "one country, two systems" motto.

Over the years, the first statements of this section have always been the same, reiterating that the Central Government will never waver in upholding the principles of "one country, two systems", that it encourages "Hong Kong people to govern Hong Kong" and "Macao people to govern Macao" with a "high degree of autonomy", and that it fully supports the two Special Administrative Regions in maintaining stability and prosperity.

The opening statements remain unchanged this year. They are clearly major directives of national policies and must not be altered.

Following its familiar introduction, the Report expounded Beijing's initiatives in support of Hong Kong and Macao. In reference to Hong Kong, it stated that the Central Government will help the SAR solidify and enhance its role as an international financial, trade and shipping hub, develop its competitive industries, and nurture new economic growth engines. It will also assist the SAR in implementing the Framework for Reform and Development Planning for the Pearl River Delta Region (the framework), and in moving forward with huge cross-border infrastructure projects, such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Hong Kong still holds the title of international financial, trade and shipping hub in the global network; this is the position that the city must strengthen and enhance to fend off competition from neighboring areas.

But even this strategy is not enough; the SAR must also redouble its efforts to find new growth engines.

At present, the global economic structure is in the process of transformation, with knowledge-based and innovative industries becoming new growth engines. Hong Kong cannot afford to stay unchanged. Chief Executive Donald Tsang has pledged to develop six new industries, a vision that the Central Government supports.

Intensifying Guangdong-Hong Kong cooperation and fostering closer economic ties between the SAR and the mainland is also a central policy and need for which there is a consensus in the local community.

Finally, Premier Wen emphasized that the mainland will always provide solid support and direction for Hong Kong and Macao. As long as SAR governments and all sectors of society work together in the spirit of tolerance and mutual assistance to preserve stability and promote prosperity in Hong Kong and Macao, the SARs will undoubtedly rise to reach far beyond the best predictions.

These words are both a promise and an expectation that require careful analysis.

(HK Edition 03/09/2010 page1)