Editorial: Five Needs for HK’s Advance from Stability to Prosperity – 20240417 – English – Daily Ming Pao

On last year’s National Security Education Day, Xia attended the opening ceremony in person and delivered a speech. He mentioned ”six beliefs” and emphasised a lot on safeguarding national security. Back then, Xia specifically said, ”While Hong Kong society seems to be peaceful now, there are indeed undercurrents. The roots of instability have yet to be eliminated, and the foundation of stability still needs to be consolidated. We need to stay vigilant at all time against the resurgence of street violence, the soft resistance wreaking havoc in secret and the backflow of overseas activities aiming to disrupt Hong Kong.” This year, the focus of Xia’s speech is obviously different from last year. Most of his speech is about what needs to be done when Hong Kong advances from stability to prosperity.

Xia mentioned that with the completion of Article 23 legislation and the full implementation of patriots running Hong Kong, Hong Kong ”has bid farewell to instability and finally ushered in the best time for striving for economic growth and development”. Later on, he mentioned ”five needs” for Hong Kong’s advance from stability to prosperity. Apart from the first point, which is ”remaining steadfast to the bottom line of national security”, all the other four points focus on how to seek development. Xia no longer mentioned ”soft resistance” or ”staying vigilant against overseas activities to disrupt Hong Kong”. This does not mean the central government believes that Hong Kong has put all its national security issues to bed. However, the latest speech does show that the central government thinks that Hong Kong has entered a new era, and it is time to turn over a new leaf in history and begin a new chapter of glory for Hong Kong.

In February this year, Xia came to Hong Kong on a tour of inspection. Back then, the SAR government stated that the focus of his visit was to understand the progress made by the SAR government and all sectors of society in promoting Hong Kong’s advance from stability to prosperity, including the results and plans. Xia’s latest long speech is the first since the conclusion of his tour of inspection. He talks about the ”five needs” for Hong Kong’s advance from stability to prosperity. To a certain extent, it can be regarded as a summary after the tour of inspection as well as the most detailed discussion on what needs to be done for Hong Kong to advance from stability to prosperity.

Among Xia’s ”five needs”, it can be said that ”remaining steadfast to national security” is the foundation, and ”making full use of One Country, Two Systems to ensure Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability” is the general principle. The remaining three needs, i.e., ”consolidating Hong Kong’s unique status and advantages”, ”better integrating into the overall development of the country to explore business opportunities”, and ”proactively adapting to new situations and new challenges” designate the path for Hong Kong to take to advance from stability to prosperity. There are many specific contents, and what runs through them is seeking change and innovation.

Yesterday (15 April), Xia clearly stated that Hong Kong needs to ”remodel, update, transform and upgrade” itself, and all parties need to ”work together” and employ new thinking and methods to solve problems. It should constantly push itself and innovate boldly. Xia is undoubtedly spot on about the urgent needs of Hong Kong.

Ming Pao Editorial 2024.04.16: The “Five Needs” for governance and prosperity lie in seeking change and innovation

At the opening ceremony of the “National Security Education Day”, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, delivered a video speech in Beijing, proposing for the first time the “five-point needs” for the governance and development of Hong Kong.

On last year’s National Security Education Day, Xia Baolong personally attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He mentioned the “Six Beliefs” and focused a lot on safeguarding national security. At that time, Xia Baolong specifically mentioned, “Hong Kong society seems calm now, but in fact there are undercurrents.” The root causes of the unrest have not yet been eradicated, and the foundation of governance still needs to be consolidated. We need to be alert to the resurgence of street violence, to be wary of soft confrontation and covert chaos, and to be wary of the influx of overseas chaos into Hong Kong.” The focus of Xia Baolong’s speech this time was obviously different from last year. Most of the space was spent on what needs to be done to restore Hong Kong’s governance and prosperity.

Xia Baolong mentioned that with the completion of the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law and the full implementation of Patriots’ governance of Hong Kong, Hong Kong “has bid farewell to the turbulent situation and has finally ushered in the best period of striving for economic development and pursuing development.” He mentioned later From the “five-point needs” of governance and development, except for the first point of “securing the bottom line of national security”, the other four points are all centered on how to seek development. Xia Baolong never mentioned “soft confrontation” or “warning of overseas disruptive activities in Hong Kong”. Of course, this does not mean that the central government believes that Hong Kong’s national security is safe. However, his latest speech undoubtedly reflects that the central government believes that Hong Kong has entered a new era and it is time to open a new page in history and write a new chapter in history. Hong Kong’s new glory.

In February this year, Xia Baolong came to Hong Kong for investigation and inspection. At that time, the SAR government stated that the focus of Xia Baolong’s visit was to understand the SAR government and all walks of life in promoting the process of Hong Kong’s governance and revitalization in all aspects, including the results and plans. This is the first time that Xia Baolong has delivered a long speech after completing his research and inspection. He talks about the “five needs” for the governance and prosperity of Hong Kong. To a certain extent, it can be regarded as a summary after the survey. It is also the first time that he has discussed what needs to be done for the governance and prosperity of Hong Kong. discussed in most detail.

Among Xia Baolong’s “five-point needs”, if it is said that maintaining the bottom line of national security is the foundation, and giving full play to the role of one country, two systems in ensuring Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability is the general principle; the remaining three points are to consolidate Hong Kong’s unique status and advantages, better integrate into the overall development of the country, and explore business opportunities. As well as proactively adapting to new situations and new challenges, it points out the path from governance to prosperity. There is no lack of specific content, and what runs through it is change and innovation.

Xia Baolong made it clear yesterday that Hong Kong needs to “iterate, update, transform and upgrade,” and all parties need to “unite as one,” use new thinking and new methods to solve problems, constantly break through themselves, and boldly innovate. This undoubtedly reflects the urgent needs of Hong Kong.

■/ Glossary new words /

in person : if you do something in person, you go somewhere and do it yourself, instead of doing it by letter, asking somebody else to do it, etc.

usher in : to be the beginning of something new or to make something new begin

put something to bed : to successfully deal with something or solve a problem