The white clouds cross the mountain peaks, and the pearl tak

From 1997 to 2022, a quarter of a century, time has witnessed the progress: Hong Kong's economy continues to flourish, its status as an international financial, shipping, and trade center continues to be consolidated, Hong Kong residents enjoy unprecedented democratic rights and freedoms, and various livelihood undertakings have achieved substantial progress. Improve... The white clouds pass over the mountains, and the pearls take on a new color. After 25 years of extraordinary history, this thriving city is continuing to write a new story of development and a new legend of prosperity under the Lion Rock in the new era.

 

The wind blows from the coast of the South China Sea, and the tides flow on both sides of the Fragrant River. On June 22, 2022, in the West Kowloon Cultural District on the banks of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, the Hong Kong Palace Museum, shaped like a golden square tripod, opened. Five years ago, under the personal care and witness of President Xi Jinping, the Palace Museum and the Hong Kong West Kowloon Cultural District Authority signed the "Cooperation Agreement on the Construction of the Hong Kong Palace Museum Heritage Museum".

 

Not just the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Tseung Kwan O desalination plant, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Central-Wanchai Bypass Project... Each and every project with advanced functions and magnificent atmosphere has written a footnote to the prosperity and development of Hong Kong. All of this is due to the strong support of the central government and the people of the mainland, and is inseparable from the firm determination and confidence of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to fully and accurately implement the "one country, two systems" policy.

 

The National Emblem hangs high in the Legislative Council Chamber; the national flag flutters on the campus of primary and secondary schools... The four commemorative stamps issued by Hongkong Post for the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are printed with "Stable", "Ding", "Feng" and "Prosperity" respectively. typeface. On both sides of the Hong Kong River, the weather is new. President Xi Jinping has a profound and broad insight into Hong Kong's yesterday, today and tomorrow. With a series of top-level design and strategic measures with theoretical and practical innovation significance, he has consolidated the new foundation for Hong Kong's development and led the new practice of "one country, two systems". A Hong Kong with political democracy, sound rule of law, freedom and openness, inclusiveness and harmony, prosperity and stability, with the motherland in mind and the world facing the world will surely be better presented to the world.

 

On the banks of the Hong Kong, the tides ebb and flow, and the pace of progress is more determined: since the handover, Hong Kong’s GDP has increased from HK$1.37 trillion to HK$2.86 trillion in 2021, and the market value of Hong Kong’s stock market has increased from HK$3.2 trillion to the highest in 2021. 58.6 trillion Hong Kong dollars, foreign exchange reserves increased from 92.8 billion US dollars to 465 billion US dollars in May 2022, Hong Kong’s ranking in the global rule of law index rose from more than 60 to 19th, and the average life expectancy has remained stable for many years. Global number one.

 

Beneath the Lion Rock, there is endless growth and development advantages are even more obvious: Since 1997, Hong Kong has been rated as "the world's freest economy" for 25 consecutive years. In the assessment of the Fraser Institute's "World Economic Freedom 2021 Annual Report", Hong Kong continued to rank first in "international trade freedom" and "regulation". According to the latest "World Competitiveness Annual Report 2022" released by the Lausanne International School of Management and Development in Switzerland, Hong Kong's ranking has risen from the seventh place in the world last year to the fifth place.

 

Over the past 25 years, with the support of the central government, Hong Kong has resisted the impact of the Asian financial crisis, the SARS epidemic, the international financial crisis, and the new crown pneumonia epidemic. The unique position of the world, China Unicom and the world has become more and more prominent. The world's largest offshore RMB business center, the world's largest corporate business environment, and the first in Asia in terms of talent competitiveness. The data "topping the list" reflects the gold content of the words "Hong Kong, China". Robert Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation in the United States, believes that the "one country, two systems" policy gives Hong Kong a special status. As a world-leading city, Hong Kong reflects China's international image and soft power.

 

Starting anew, the joint force of co-creating the future will be more cohesive. "Harmony leads to auspiciousness, and good spirit leads to differences." After the ups and downs, the majority of Hong Kong citizens have come to a clearer understanding that although Hong Kong has a good family background, it can no longer stand up to tossing and internal friction. Cherish Hong Kong as a home is the common aspiration, common expectation and common responsibility of all those who truly care about and love Hong Kong. Unforgettable 2021 National Day, the open square of the Hong Kong Cultural Center in Tsim Sha Tsui, when the music of "My Motherland and Me" sounded, hundreds of citizens sang loudly, and the five-star red flag waving in their hands and the huge national flag complemented each other and merged into a jubilant red ocean. . Today, Hong Kong's society is on the rise, the people's true patriotic feelings are revealed, people's minds are stable, stable, and people's minds are governed. "Seeking stability and development" is the mainstream public opinion, and "opening a new chapter for Hong Kong together" has become a strong consensus.

 

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has been completed and opened to traffic, and the two world-class sea-crossing projects of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel and the Huangmaohai Sea-crossing Channel have been accelerated... The "Greater Bay Area on Track" is being formed at an accelerated rate, and the "1-hour living circle" facilitates the three places Resident exchanges. Today, on the satellite map of the world night scene, the dazzling lights extend from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to Hong Kong and Macau. Connecting the four seas, embracing the five continents, and building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will surely accumulate new potential for Hong Kong to take off.

 

 

Realizing the complete reunification of the motherland is the fundamental interest of the Chinese nation, and it is also the common aspiration and sacred duty of all Chinese sons and daughters. In January 1982, Comrade Deng Xiaoping creatively put forward the scientific concept of "one country, two systems", which opened up a new way to realize the reunification of the motherland in a peaceful way. To this day, we can still ask the question: Is there any ruling party in the world that would allow two social systems in one country? As British scholar Martin Jacques commented, the concept of "one country, two systems" is undoubtedly innovative, appropriate and timely.

 

Facing the future, let us strengthen our historical confidence—inheriting Chinese civilization and committing to national rejuvenation. We have an incomparably broad stage, an incomparably profound historical background, and an incomparably strong will to move forward.

 

Facing the future, let us maintain such historical consciousness—strengthen national consciousness, cultivate family and country feelings, share the historical responsibility of national rejuvenation, and share the great glory of the prosperity and strength of the motherland.

 

Facing the future, let us maintain this kind of historical initiative—understand the logic of history, integrate into the grand narrative of the country, act with the times, take advantage of the trend, and work together to build a modern socialist country in an all-round way and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

 

QCIT Group wishes us "Believe in yourself, believe in Hong Kong and believe in the country"!​​

 

 

Source: People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency Head image: Xinhua News Agency reporter (Li Gang) Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Editor: Zhao Xiaoman