Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Xia Baolong "Fully Affirms" and "Fully Trusts" OHKF

 

Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Xia Baolong
"Fully Affirms" and "Fully Trusts" OHKF
 

(1 November 2023, Hong Kong) A senior delegation of Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF) led by Chairman Bernard Chan visited Beijing and was received by Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Director Mr Xia Baolong and the newly appointed Minister of Science and Technology Mr Yin Hejun on 26 October. This is the first time an OHKF delegation visited Beijing since the founding of the OHKF. Mr Xia met with the delegation at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse for almost two-and-a-half hours and fully affirmed OHKF’s stance of “love the country and Hong Kong”, fully affirms OHKF’s support for the HKSAR Government to administer Hong Kong in accordance with the law, and fully affirms OHKF’s good work in telling the Hong Kong story and China story and in promoting Hong Kong’s prosperity and development.

“Director Xia emphasized that China’s ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle will not change and that it is the best arrangement to ensure Hong Kong’s and Macao’s long-term prosperity and stability after the Handover. This principle must be insisted upon for the long haul. Ever since the Handover, everything China does for Hong Kong is in the interest of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and in the interest of Hong Kong,” delegation leader Mr Bernard Chan said.

Mr Chan added that what Director Xia said had helped us better understand the international situation that Hong Kong finds itself in, particularly to clearly discern the anti-China forces in the US and the West who are sparing no efforts to interfere and disrupt the implementation of “One Country Two Systems”. They do so not because we have done anything wrong but because our country and Hong Kong have done everything right and are developing well. Even if we compromise and back down they will not stop smearing Hong Kong and China. This is why we must stand united, be self-reliant, and fight hard. The difficulties Hong Kong is facing are all transitory. We deeply feel the confidence of Central People’s Government in Hong Kong’s development. Hong Kong people, too, should have confidence in our country and in ourselves. As long as we stand united with our country, Hong Kong will certainly overcome all the difficulties we are facing.

Mr Chan said Mr Xia had expressed full trust in OHKF and held out high expectations of it. The Central People’s Government supports OHKF to draw together more patriots who love the country and Hong Kong so that together they would make even greater contribution to Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.

Mr Bernard Chan expressed his deep gratitude to Mr Xia for his full affirmation, trust, and support. OHKF will enter its 10th anniversary next year. The next decade will be crucial for the country and Hong Kong. As a leading think tank in Hong Kong, the Foundation will face new challenges, take on new roles, and perform new tasks.

Mr Chan added that OHKF will adhere to our founding principle, backed by our country, face the world, and with Hong Kong roots. We will do our utmost in furthering our core mission, which is to: (1) conduct public policy research and advocate our policy proposals in support of the HKSAR Government for the good governance of Hong Kong under “One Country Two Systems”; (2) promote Chinese culture and support Hong Kong’s role as a centre for cultural exchanges between China and the West, and to tell the China story and Hong Kong story well; (3) compile the Hong Kong Chronicles to accomplish the historic tasks of preserving history, promoting good governance, and enlightening the public; and (4) promote science and technology innovation to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness and improve people's livelihood.

Meeting with Minister for Science and Technology Mr Yin Hejun
OHKF is the first Hong Kong organisation that Minister Yin has received after assuming office as Minister for Science and Technology. Delegation leader Mr Chan briefed the Minister on OHKF’s work in promoting science and technology, including public policy research such as research on Hong Kong-Shenzhen collaboration in biotech, and also in organising flagship events such as the “InnoTech Expo” and “Mainland Expedition on Entrepreneurship and Technology” with the support of the Ministry.

Minister Yin commended OHKF’s work. He said Hong Kong has distinct advantages in developing itself into an international science and technology centre, and is an important gathering place for global innovation talents and a key hub of global innovation networks. The Ministry will work closely with the HKSAR Government and all sectors of Hong Kong society to develop Hong Kong as a science and technology centre. He added that the Ministry will promote science and technology collaboration between Hong Kong and GBA cities, and also support Hong Kong’s participation in science and technology projects relating to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Minister Yin also said the Ministry would promote the exchanges of science and technology talents between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and support OHKF in flagship projects such as “InnoTech Expo”.

Meeting with the Palace Museum and Think Tanks
Director of the Palace Museum Dr Wang Xudong said at a meeting with the delegation that the Academy of Chinese Studies under OHKF has planned, edited and completed the “Our Palace Museum” teaching resource project within a compressed timeframe, bringing the national treasures of the Palace Museum to life and taking them to 400 primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. He praised this as an outstanding achievement.

Dr Wang said that the Palace Museum and the Foundation will actively discuss more comprehensive cooperation in the future, including the production of more teaching materials for primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, and explore the feasibility of using these teaching materials in mainland schools.

He said that the Academy is well poised to become a bridge between the Palace Museum and Hong Kong’s education circles, organising student exchanges, internships and competitions between the two places.

The OHKF Delegation also visited two mainland think tanks, namely Mr Zhang Xiaoqiang, Executive Vice Chairman of a national think tank, the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), and Mr Wang Huiyao, President of China’s leading international non-governmental think tank, Centre for China and Globalization (CCG), for exchanges of views and discussions on project collaboration.

OHKF looks forward to more cooperation on GBA projects with the CCIEE, and projects relating to talent development and youth dialogue with CCG.

The List of Members of the OHKF Delegation

1. Mr Bernard Chan, Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation;
2. Ms Elsie Leung, Member of Board of Governors of OHKF and Council Member of Hong Kong Chronicles Institute;
3. Professor Wong Yuk Shan, Member of Board of Governors of OHKF and Chairman of Promotion Committee of Hong Kong Chronicles Institute;
4. Dr Allan Zeman, Member of Board of Governors of OHKF;
5. Mr Daryl Ng, Member of Board of Governors of OHKF and Council Member of Hong Kong Chronicles Institute;
6. Mr Alan Tung, Member of Board of Governors of OHKF;
7. Mr Lau Ping-cheung, Member of Board of Governors of OHKF;
8. Mr Christopher Kwok, Member of Board of Governors of OHKF;
9. Dr Jane Lee, President of OHKF;
10. Mr Kenny Shui, Vice President and Co-Head of Research of OHKF;
11. Mr Ryan Ip, Vice President and Co-Head of Research of OHKF;
12. Dr Yau Yat, Executive Director of Academy of Chinese Studies;
13. Dr Sun Wenbin, Director of Editorial, Hong Kong Chronicles Institute;
14. Ms Jenny Chan, Senior Manager, Executive Office of OHKF;
15. Mr Ray Dou, Inno Platform Manager of OHKF.