‘Two sessions’ 2025: vice-premier asks Hong Kong to financially back nation’s tech growth
Ding Xuexiang also reiterates Beijing’s support for city’s role as financial hub in closed-door meeting with Hong Kong members of CPPCC
Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang has asked Hong Kong to use its resources to support the nation’s technological advancement, stressing Beijing’s strong commitment to the city’s role as an international financial centre, attendees at a meeting with the state leader have said.
They also said Ding, the head of the Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, encouraged the financial hub to stay confident amid economic challenges, while warning the city to remain vigilant regarding possible national security risks, even after relevant laws were implemented.
Ding, the sixth-ranked Politburo Standing Committee member, held a two-hour closed-door meeting with Hong Kong and Macau members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top advisory body, on Thursday.
The vice-premier told members that Beijing valued Hong Kong as an international financial centre and wanted the city to strengthen its “golden signature”, CPPCC member Lo Wing-hung said after the meeting with Ding.
“[Ding] discussed how technology development tied in with financial capital, while expressing hope that Hong Kong’s financial capital would support the technology cooperation between the city and the country,” Lo noted.
“In terms of technology and innovation investment, Ding encouraged the city to invest at an early stage, even if it was just a small amount of capital, and should go for long-term hard technologies,” Lo said, adding Ding had referred to DJI, the world’s biggest maker of consumer drones.