“We have dealt with the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law and completed our constitutional responsibility,” he added, referring to the recently implemented domestic national security law.
“We have also improved our district level governance, we will now fully pursue economic growth, advance development and improve people’s livelihoods.”
Lee said he aimed to focus on three major directions: developing the local economy and improving people’s livelihoods; improving Hong Kong’s existing advantages and looking for new areas of growth; and opportunities overseas and in mainland China.
Lee will co-chair the joint conference, the 24th, with Guangdong governor Wang Weizhong.
The Hong Kong delegation will include Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan and other top officials.
Lee said the economy had already improved since the start of his term, with the city’s gross domestic product reversing from a 3.7 per cent contraction at that time to growth forecast at between 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent this year.
He also pointed to the city’s new light public housing scheme as an example of measures to improve the lives of residents.
In terms of strengthening the city’s advantages and finding new growth areas, Lee said the city had many opportunities for different sectors, pointing to schemes to attract talent and various investments to stimulate the economy.
On opportunities overseas and on the mainland, Lee said Hong Kong would take advantage of various opportunities presented by the central government such as the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Opportunities presented by Asean and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free-trade bloc, would also be looked at, as well as developing new markets in the Middle East and Central Asia.
“We will also promote to markets in Europe and in the West, this includes me and other officials at the secretary level and other government officials, we will explore for business opportunities in these areas,” he said.
Separately, Lee also addressed the issue of protests on the July 1 anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty, traditionally a day when people took to the streets to air grievances. The last officially approved march took place five years ago in 2019.
“Everyone has different opinions on many different things, it is very normal and there are many ways to express these opinions. Hong Kong has many avenues for residents to express their opinions,” he said.
Lee urged residents to be wary of a repeat of “unhappy experiences” in the past, noting some activities had been “hijacked”. He said police would conduct law and order management based on actual needs as usual.
