Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said his administration would strive to focus on high-quality development, while calling on Hongkongers to stay flexible and chart their own paths in face of changes.

His comments came a day after Beijing's top man on Hong Kong, Xia Baolong, told the opening ceremony of the National Security Education Day that the SAR should seek and embrace changes.

Drawing on the speech by the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Lee said Xia was speaking to the whole of the territory.

"The government should focus on high-quality development. We need to stay focused on the objective, we need to stay on course," he told reporters ahead of the weekly Exco meeting.

"The commerce industry will have to invoke their innovative ideas. We need to find new growth areas. Different quarters in Hong Kong should work together for the betterment of Hong Kong, so that Hong Kong can once again shine."

Lee pointed out that Hong Kong is now in a new phase of economic development, calling on people to "ride on the Lion Rock spirit".

"Hong Kong people need to understand that the landscape has changed. They should take matters into their own hands and they should stay flexible and adaptive," he said.

The chief executive added the SAR has to integrate into the nation's overall development, which offers Hong Kong the most direct and unlimited opportunities.