The head of Beijing’s office overseeing Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong, has called for greater unity among residents, businesses and political parties as the city transitions from order to prosperity.

The call on Friday was conveyed by Chief Secretary Eric Chan, who watched an online speech Xia made in connection with a forum marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies.

Businesses must put the city's and country's interests before their own, Chan quoted the head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office as saying.

Chan also noted that Xia reassured foreign investors that the "One Country, Two Systems" principle is here to stay and will be implemented firmly.

District councillors, meanwhile, were told to unite and proactively solve residents’ daily livelihood issues.

"Director Xia specifically mentioned that the district councillors are an important part of grassroots governance... [and that] following the district council revamp, all of them are patriots and fully comply with all requirements under the Basic Law,” Chan said.

“He very much hopes that district councillors will do their utmost to serve the public well and achieve the goal of ‘sharing government objectives to the public’ while ‘reporting the public demand to the government,'" Chan added.

Speaking in Beijing, Tam Yiu-chung, vice president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, noted that Xia reflected on Hong Kong’s history from the opium wars to the handover, and how Hong Kong compatriots have always showed patriotism.

"Director Xia has noted that the city is now under a new phase of patriotism and hopes we could enhance such efforts to form a new social atmosphere of loving the country and the city. Unity can help us overcome any difficulties," Tam said.

Xia's speech was shown at a local event held at the Central Government Offices and attended by senior officials, leading political figures, as well as 90 percent of the city's newly elected district councillors.