Pledges to align HK's development with China's reflect pressure from Beijing

HK officials indicate their intention to fall in line with national objectives, directives

- Magdalene Fung

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's No. 2 official Paul Chan has reminded the city that its development must be tightly tied to that of China in order for Hong Kongers to prosper.

The finance chief's reminder — which comes amid China's annual Two Sessions parliamentary meetings — reflects pressure from Beijing for Hong Kong to pursue faster and deeper integration with the mainland to boost their respective economies, analysts say.

To align itself with China's development, Hong Kong must expedite work in three areas: improve technological innovation, boost local consumption and deepen international cooperation, Mr Chan said in a blog post on March 9.

"We must speed up our work in these three aspects, following closely in line with the direction of our national development... as we actively integrate Hong Kong into China's broader growth situation," Mr Chan wrote, adding that the economic results of doing so would benefit Hong Kongers.

Prior to a period of social unrest in Hong Kong in 2019 and the subsequent imposition of a national security law on the city the following year, Hong Kong's focus during the Two Sessions tended to be centred on how to maintain its unique identity from the mainland while still reaping the benefits of being a part of China.

Mr Chan's blog post came on the weekend, during which local officials issued one statement after another pledging to heed Beijing's directives for Hong Kong to "unite" its development with China's priorities.

The flurry of official pronouncements comes as thousands of delegates — more than 200 of them representing Hong Kong — prepare to conclude the Two Sessions meetings that have been ongoing in Beijing since March 4 to discuss issues of national concern.