Hong Kong should be the "super-partner", apart from being the "super-connector" for the Belt and Road Initiative, says Ng Leung-sing, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress and a seasoned banker.

Ng, a former legislator representing the finance sector, and also chairman of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Trustees, noted that the recent 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China had urged the special administrative region to take up a "super partner" role as well for strategic national projects, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

He said Hong Kong society was thrilled to learn that "one country, two systems" has been given a new status and included in the basic policy for applying the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the 19th CPC National Congress.

He felt the Party congress has explicated Hong Kong's position and role, casting light on the city's future development.

"Whether Hong Kong can achieve further and greater economic development will depend on the level of integration (with the mainland)," he said, adding that a genuine integration is being included in national policies and administrative measures.

He said the Party congress has made a breakthrough and demonstrated the Party's trust in Hong Kong by attaching great importance to the SAR, giving full play to its advantages.

"This is an opportunity for Hong Kong, with Hong Kong being enshrined in the Party's main policies. It will definitely benefit Hong Kong in fulfilling its most important mission under 'one country, two systems', that is being the international center, no matter it's in finance, logistics, shipping or other fields," Ng stressed.

Over the years, a lot of groundwork has been laid to step up cross-boundary cooperation, notably the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Ng believes that, based on the previous foundation work, Hong Kong is set to embark on a new scale of integration with the mainland in the development of both the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Building the Greater Bay Area will also serve the development of the Belt and Road, which will further enhance the SAR's role in linking the mainland with the world, he said, adding that a clear timetable and outline should be drawn up as soon as possible.

Ng believes that China will continue to play a leading role on the global stage. While the world's developed economies are self-fettered, China, on the contrary, advocates the concept of a "Community with a Shared Future for Mankind". That is exactly the proof of China's rising power, he said.

stushadow@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 03/15/2018 page8)