Lawmakers and legal representatives said on Saturday that the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan would allow Hong Kong to achieve success, undergo economic transformation and further integrate into the country's development.

Speaking at an event co-hosted by the Hong Kong Basic Law Education Association, Hong Kong Association for External Friendship, Association of Hong Kong Professionals, International Academy of the Belt and Road, and Hong Kong WTO Research Institute, Roden Tong, who chairs the Law Society, said the SAR serves as an important asset for the nation with its legal status.

"We are the only common law jurisdiction in the country and the only bilingual common law jurisdiction in the world, operating in both Chinese and English," he said.

"This enables Hong Kong to provide internationally trusted legal and dispute resolution services that connect China with the rest of the world."

Tong said the SAR can provide high-quality services in areas such as cross-border finance, corporate compliance, arbitration, mediation and more.

Lawmaker Thomas So said the central government had offered support to the SAR as well as recognition of its potential to drive the Greater Bay Area's economy.

"For example, it elevated the Northern Metropolis project to a national strategy, deepening its integration with the Greater Bay Area," he said.

"It supports Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its traditional advantages while also fostering new quality productive forces."

So also said the city was expected to play an irreplaceable role in the nation's high standard opening-up and that it was encouraging to see the SAR administration move quickly to formulate its first five-year plan as a way to proactively align with national development plans.



Edited by Thomas McAlinden