The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, has been quoted as telling business leaders in Hong Kong that they should be more confident about the SAR as its future is bright.

Xia is said to have made the comment during a four-hour meeting with local businessmen, entrepreneurs and developers at the government headquarters on the second day of his week-long visit in Hong Kong.

One of those at the meeting, Chinese General Chamber of Commerce chairman Jonathan Choi, said the senior mainland official mainly listened to their views on the economy.

He said he told Xia that although the struggling stock and property markets have affected consumption, Hong Kong has to remain confident as it has the advantage of the One Country, Two Systems principle.

"Most importantly, Hong Kong is an international city. How can we get foreign companies to be confident about their investment, and attract them to come to the SAR? It is very important for the SAR to play its role of connecting the mainland with the rest of the world," Choi told RTHK.

He added that he told Xia that Hong Kong needs to integrate into the country's development blueprint, while expanding into the ASEAN and Middle Eastern markets.

Choi said there wasn't much discussion about Basic Law Article 23 legislation, as representatives unanimously agreed that there's a need to enact the laws.

Others who attended meeting include Sun Hung Kai Properties chairman Raymond Kwok, PCCW chairman Richard Li, Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants & Related Trades chairman Simon Wong and Allan Zeman of the Lan Kwai Fong Group.