There will be more measures benefiting the SAR in the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, according to a spokesman of the National People's Congress (NPC) which will open in Beijing on Thursday.

At a press conference ahead of the annual NPC meeting, Lou Qinjian said the measures will support the city in leveraging its unique strengths and roles.

With the central government's strong backing, he said the SAR government has led society in striving for economic development.

The NPC spokesman noted there had been a large number of stock launches on the Hong Kong bourse while a record of more than 10,000 outside firms had set up shop in the SAR.

Lou stressed that under the country's latest plans, Beijing supported the city in building an international innovation and technology hub, as well as efforts for both Hong Kong and Macao in attracting global high-end talent.

On the mainland economy, the spokesman said China would roll out more measures to boost domestic consumption, after achieving steady GDP growth last year.

Lou said more than half of last year's GDP growth came from consumption-based activities.

Overall retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 50 trillion yuan for the first time, he said, while double-digit percentage growth was seen in areas such as consumer spending on culture, tourism, recreation and travel.

China's gross GDP exceeded 140 trillion yuan, Lou noted, contributing around 30 percent to the world's economic growth.

"This year, we will continue expanding domestic demand as a strategic underpinning, vigorously boost consumption, and work to build a strong domestic market," he said.

"We will carry out a programme of quality upgrade in the consumer services sector and move faster to cultivate new growth areas in services consumption. We will optimise the trading policy for consumer goods and expand and upgrade goods consumption."

He added that efforts would be made to promote tourist consumption in China, such as organising a series of "Shopping in China" events.

Lou said the NPC would vet 11 items during the session that will runs from March 5 to 12.

He described the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan on the agenda as a major event for the country's politics. Other items to be reviewed include the government's work report and a code on ecology and the environment.


Edited by Tony Sabine