Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), Starry Lee, says President Xi Jinping’s speech on Monday offered “a shot in the arm” to the city’s future development.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the country’s legislature, Xi pledged support for Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and called on the SAR to firmly implement the One Country, Two Systems principle.

Lee said she felt motivated by Xi’s remarks, adding that she will work closely with Beijing on policies relating to the city’s development.

“As a Standing Committee member of the NPC, I can work with the Hong Kong government and also different sectors of the community to liaise with the central government, so that more policy initiatives can be launched by the central government for the betterment of both our high quality development and also Hong Kong's development,” she told reporters at a virtual media briefing in Beijing.

The newly elected NPCSC deputy also expressed the hope that the SAR can contribute to the country's infrastructure by leveraging on its role as an international financial centre.

Meanwhile, NPC deputy Ma Fung-kwok told the same media briefing that the president's mention of Hong Kong highlighted Beijing's emphasis on the city's development. He stressed the need for the SAR government to roll out concrete policies to improve people's livelihoods.