'Work report shows Beijing's support for HK'
Local delegates to the country's legislature said on Tuesday Premier Li Qiang's work report highlighted the central government's backing for the development of Hong Kong. In his first work report as premier, Li said Beijing would continue implementing the principle of patriots administering Hong Kong and Macau, as well as supporting the participation of the two SARs in the development of the Greater Bay Area. National People's Congress (NPC) delegate Allen Yeung said the report showed the central government's concern about Hong Kong affairs. "The government has emphasised again that supporting Hong Kong and Macau is of a national agenda and we would be supported by the government of continuous prosperity on this measure. And also Hong Kong should be involved more heavily into the development of the Greater Bay Area," he said.  Starry Lee, Hong Kong's sole delegate to the NPC Standing Committee, described the work report as comprehensive. "I would think that this is concrete support from the central government, because it re-emphasises that it supports the One Country, Two Systems, it supports the patriots administering Hong Kong, and also encourages Hong Kong to further integrate into the Greater Bay Area," Lee said. "That is also very, very important to the Hong Kong society as a whole." Another NPC deputy, Jimmy Ng, said he’s confident that the SAR will be able to contribute more to the Greater Bay Area. "For the past one, two years, the central government has been announcing a lot of very good measures to let Hong Kong merge with the other GBA cities, so I am very confident about the development and the future of the development of the whole GBA area." The work report did not mention plans by Hong Kong to enact Basic Law Article 23 national security legislation. NPC deputy Rock Chen said the focus of the authorities is on the economy. "I think from the mainland government's perspective, Hong Kong has more or less formed a consensus about Article 23, so they should not put too much focus and emphasis on Article 23," Chen said.