Beijing policies on HK won’t change, businesses told

A senior mainland official overseeing Hong Kong affairs on Tuesday reassured the business sector that Beijing will not change the one country, two systems policy, and the legal rights of investors in the SAR will continue to be protected.

Speaking at a summit, the deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Huang Liuquan, acknowledged that companies have some concerns about the city’s business environment, saying this is because there are complicated external issues relating to the SAR’s development.

But Huang said Hong Kong will only provide a bigger stage for development in future.

He said although one country, two systems has run into problems and challenges over the years, it is the best policy for ensuring Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.

The central government introduced the national security law and electoral reforms in Hong Kong to plug loopholes, he said.

“As everyone can see, since the implementation of these two measures, Hong Kong’s rule of law has been shown, social order has been restored and development has returned to the right track. Citizens’ rights and freedoms are also better protected,” Huang said.

“The central government’s support for Hong Kong to maintain its status as a free port and a separate customs territory, our support for Hong Kong to strengthen and increase its competitive advantages and policies to protect the legal rights of investors in Hong Kong… all these will not change,” he said.

Huang said Hong Kong will continue to play an irreplaceable role in China’s open-door policy.

He urged the business sector to remain confident, grasp opportunities and integrate into the country’s development.