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2022 Policy Address (Extract)

Dovetail with National Strategies to Create Strong Impetus for Growth

  1. National strategies including the 14th Five‑Year Plan, the GBA development and the Belt and Road Initiative have injected continuous impetus to the growth of Hong Kong. The 14th Five‑Year Plan has supported the development of the “eight centres” in Hong Kong. Our priority is to reinforce our position as an international financial centre, and promote the development of two emerging industries, namely I&T and arts and culture. At the same time, we will continue to play our role as an international trade centre and fully capitalise on our shipping and aviation development to enhance our functions in the regional supply chain. We will also continue to enhance our strengths in legal services and develop Hong Kong into a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre. The GBA development has enhanced the interconnectivity and integrated development among GBA cities. The Government will make good use of the strengthened Guangdong‑Hong Kong and Hong Kong‑Shenzhen co‑operation mechanisms and utilise the relevant task forces as platforms to deepen collaboration with other GBA cities. We will also actively participate in the development of major platforms for Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao co‑operation, including Qianhai of Shenzhen, Nansha of Guangzhou, Hengqin of Zhuhai and the Shenzhen‑Hong Kong Lok Ma Chau Loop. Meanwhile, the Belt and Road Initiative brings tremendous opportunities to our service industry, creating wider networks by fostering people‑to‑people bonds.

  2. The Government will establish the Steering Group on Integration into National Development to be chaired by the Chief Executive, with three Secretaries of Departments (i.e. the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary and the Secretary for Justice) as deputies. The Steering Group will press ahead with initiatives across bureaux and provide steer from a strategic and macro perspective, enhance communications with Mainland authorities and regularly host briefing sessions on national policies. The work of the Steering Group will cover four major areas:

    • formulating strategic plans for Hong Kong to dovetail with the 14th Five‑Year Plan and the GBA development, and proactively forging ahead with development and collaboration;
    • formulating work plans and priorities with a view to fostering a greater flow of people, goods, capital and information within the GBA;
    • strengthening regional co‑operation mechanisms with Mainland provinces and municipalities, and monitoring the progress and effectiveness of the implementation of collaborative projects; and
    • proactively promoting high‑quality development of co‑operation between Hong Kong and the Belt and Road countries in trade and commerce, professional services and cultural exchanges, and formulating relevant measures.

International Aviation Hub

  1. The Hong Kong International Aviation Academy will work with aviation training institutions in the Mainland to send young people to the airports on each side for internship starting from the first half of 2023. About 300 places will be provided in the first year. The Academy will continue to partner with the National School of Civil Aviation of France to co‑organise the Advanced Master Programme in Air Transport Management so as to attract prospective students from Belt and Road countries and consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a regional aviation training centre. Moreover, we will develop Hong Kong into the preferred location for aircraft leasing in the region by further enhancing the aircraft leasing preferential tax regime.

Post‑secondary Education

  1. To attract more outstanding students along the Belt and Road to pursue their studies or career in Hong Kong, we will collaborate with institutions to promote the Belt and Road Scholarship to countries outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The subsidy levels of the Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme will also be increased starting from the current academic year, with the introduction of a new subsidy item for travelling expenses, etc.

Annex: Indicators for Specified Tasks

International Trade Centre

  1. Promote Hong Kong as the functional platform for the Belt and Road Initiative in 2023 by:
    • > organising promotional programmes and networking sessions to be attended by no less than 7 000 persons;
    • > reaching out to no less than 500 professional and business associations, chambers and community groups;
    • > the epidemic permitting, organising business missions to five Belt and Road countries with about 100 participants; and
    • > increasing the above indicators by 5% in 2024.