Local deputies to the National People's Congress are seeking support during the upcoming annual political gatherings in Beijing for ways to bolster Hong Kong's key strengths in line with areas targeted for development priority in the national five-year plan.

Five of the representatives, who also belong to the G19 bloc of lawmakers in the Legislative Council, said on Thursday that they had come up with more than 30 proposals that they would be raising at the "Two Sessions" meetings next month.

Among them is finance-sector lawmaker Ronick Chan, who said he would propose ways to shore up support for financial institutions from Asean and Belt and Road countries that are based in Hong Kong amid efforts by Beijing to promote yuan internationalisation, as outlined in the country's 15th Five-Year Plan.

"Through injecting more liquidity for those financial institutions, they can better support their parent banks to conduct renminbi-related business in their home countries," Chan said.

Lawmaker Kenneth Fok said he hoped to highlight the city's status as an aviation hub to assist the country in its further opening-up.

"China has big ambitions in the aviation industry, not just in carriers but now with the manufacture of aircraft," he said.

"How we use Hong Kong for the world to know more about Chinese brands, Chinese carriers, Chinese travel and tourism is an important role that Hong Kong can play."

Fellow lawmaker and deputy Andrew Yao, for his part, said he was planning to suggest ways to collaborate with ports elsewhere in the Greater Bay Area to help consolidate the city's position as an international maritime centre.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden