On the famous Lee Tung Street in Hong Kong, more than 100 five-star red flags and Bauhinia regional flags hang high, attracting many pedestrians to stop to watch and take pictures.

Red lanterns were hung on the promenade near the Central Pier, the festive flag was raised on the Star Ferry, and the New Territories residents put up traditional large flower signs... The streets and alleys of Hong Kong are filled with a festive atmosphere, welcoming the return of Hong Kong in peace and harmony The 25th anniversary of the motherland.

Banner celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland at the Western District Tunnel in Hong Kong

In the 25 years since Hong Kong's return to China, relying on the motherland, Hong Kong has successfully coped with various risks and challenges and maintained prosperity and stability. The practice of "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong has achieved universally recognized success. Hong Kong and the country have always developed and prospered together, and Hong Kong compatriots and the people of the mainland have always watched and helped each other and moved forward hand in hand.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Whether it is in the past, present or future, the motherland has always been the strong backing of Hong Kong."

The motherland supports Hong Kong to overcome risks and challenges

Since the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the amount of new shares raised in Hong Kong has exceeded 650 billion Hong Kong dollars, an increase of more than 30% over the same period before the implementation; the average daily turnover of Hong Kong stocks has exceeded 150 billion Hong Kong dollars, nearly 60% higher than the 12 months before the implementation.

The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Chen Maobo, proved with detailed data that the Hong Kong National Security Law safeguards the security of the country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from the legal system, creates a safe and stable environment for the Hong Kong society, provides a good space for the development of the Hong Kong economy, and further consolidates the Hong Kong's status as an international financial center.

Without the rescue of the state, I can't imagine what Hong Kong would be like now. Recalling the damage caused to Hong Kong by the 2019 amendment bill, Hong Kong SAR Legislative Council member Fok Kaigang is still heartbroken.

At a critical moment, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core reviewed the situation, made decisive decisions, and launched a series of major measures to formulate the Hong Kong National Security Law, improve the election system for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, implement the principle of patriots ruling Hong Kong, and promote the situation in Hong Kong from chaos to rule. A major turning point, opening up a new situation of good governance and good governance in Hong Kong.

Huo Qigang said that after the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the society is stable, the atmosphere is peaceful, and the citizens feel at ease. After the electoral system is improved, many people who truly care for Hong Kong straighten their backs and can think about Hong Kong's development in a pragmatic manner. This is Hong Kong's luck. He said: "The real experience has made more Hong Kong citizens realize from the bottom of their hearts that the country truly loves Hong Kong and is Hong Kong's strongest backing."

We ordinary citizens also understand the truth that if there is no skin, there will be no hair. In the eyes of housewife Chen Yuelan, Hong Kong has experienced a lot in the past two years and has grown a lot. "Only when the social environment is stable and harmonious can our families be happy and healthy," she said.

In resisting the Asian financial turmoil, the international financial crisis, and the SARS and COVID-19 epidemics, it has been 25 years since Hong Kong returned to China. Whenever Hong Kong encounters difficulties, the motherland always provides assistance at the first time. Piece by piece, piece by piece, vividly interprets "Hong Kong has demands, and the motherland will respond" and "the motherland will always be Hong Kong's greatest support against storms and challenges". "The country, as the strongest backing, is the most important force in Hong Kong's problem-solving process," said Li Jiachao, the chief executive-designate of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The support of the advantages such as the unity of the citizens is inseparable from the support of the state.

The motherland is the biggest support for Hong Kong's development

In Shenzhen Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Dream Workshop, Lubang Power Co., Ltd., co-founded by Hong Kong youth Mai Qianyu and alumni, has settled in for three years, and is mainly engaged in the research and development and manufacturing of artificial intelligence solutions, robot control algorithms and sensors. Mai Qianyu introduced that the company's headquarters in Hong Kong mainly deals with algorithm, software and hardware design, while hardware assembly and technical testing have been transferred to mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area.

On July 1, 2017, under the witness of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the "Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Cooperation to Promote the Construction of the Greater Bay Area" was signed in Hong Kong by the National Development and Reform Commission and the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, marking the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Construction officially started.

As one of the regions with the highest degree of openness and the strongest economic vitality in China, the Greater Bay Area has obvious geographical advantages, agglomeration of innovative elements, and a solid foundation for cooperation. It occupies a pivotal position in the national economic map. Today, many Hong Kong youths like Mai Qianyu are turning their attention to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to start a wonderful life in a wider world.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has personally planned, deployed and promoted a series of major national strategies and policy measures such as the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which have provided rare opportunities for Hong Kong's development. Inexhaustible power, vast space.

Yan Gang, managing director of China Merchants Port Holdings, said that Chinese-funded enterprises in Hong Kong took the lead in participating in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, which accelerated the flow of Hong Kong's talents, capital, goods, technology, information and other elements, helped Hong Kong optimize its industrial structure, and promoted Hong Kong's Economic prosperity.

Looking back on the past five years of work, the most exciting thing is the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam, said that the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link opened in September 2018, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge opened to traffic in October of the same year, and the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Port opened in August 2020. The three major cross-border infrastructures have promoted the Greater Bay Area. The formation of the one-hour living circle in the district.

On June 16, on Lee Tung Street, Hong Kong, the national flag of the People's Republic of China and the regional flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region flutter in the wind

Relying on the development of the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong and the Mainland have made continuous breakthroughs in areas such as customs clearance facilitation, cooperation in modern service industries, talent training and youth exchanges, and the joint construction of a high-quality living circle.

Over the past 25 years, with the support of the motherland, Hong Kong's status as an international financial center has become more and more stable. Mainland companies account for more than half of Hong Kong-listed companies and nearly 80% of the stock market value. Hong Kong is the world's largest offshore renminbi business center, with more than 70% of the world's offshore renminbi payments processed in Hong Kong.

Arrangements such as Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and Bond Connect Northbound and Southbound, as well as the “Cross-border Wealth Management Connect” in the Greater Bay Area, highlight the increasingly mature mechanism for interconnection between the capital markets of the Mainland and Hong Kong, injecting new vitality into the development of Hong Kong’s financial industry .

At present, Hong Kong remains stable and prosperous, with a solid status as an international financial, shipping and trade center, and a vigorous development of innovation, technology, culture and art. In the past 25 years, the practice of one country, two systems in Hong Kong has been successful. Carrie Lam said.

The warmth from the motherland is always the same

On a colorful thank you card, two big red letters are eye-catching, thanking the central government for caring for our family. This is a thank you card drawn by a little girl from Hong Kong.

The title of the thank you card is "Central Government", and the slightly naive handwriting at the back reads: "Thank you to the motherland for developing the vaccine to protect us, our whole family has been vaccinated, and the epidemic prevention kit was issued to us in time." The final signature: Yin Yin.

At the beginning of 2022, the fifth wave of the new crown pneumonia epidemic hit Hong Kong, and the local medical system was overwhelmed for a time. The central government once again extended a helping hand in time to help Hong Kong compatriots in the snow: building shelters and hospitals at the fastest speed, dispatching batches of experts and medical team members in a timely manner, providing a large amount of anti-epidemic materials, and making every effort to ensure the supply of living materials.

Sheung Shui slaughterhouse workers in Hong Kong contracted the virus, and the mainland dispatched 38 experienced butchers to Hong Kong in a timely manner. Chen Yuelan was deeply touched by this: "It is a 'reassuring pill' for us to allow the public to eat fresh pork every day. Life in the motherland is guaranteed!"

"Just like mothers know their children best, and the motherland knows us best, they do their best to help us, give us materials, give us experience, and give us confidence." Ms. Liu, a Hong Kong citizen, said emotionally.

The blood is united, the heart is united. In the early spring of 2003, when the SARS epidemic broke out in Hong Kong, the central government provided Hong Kong with a large number of anti-epidemic drugs and equipment when the mainland was also in urgent need of anti-epidemic medical supplies. With the concerted efforts of the Hong Kong community and the selfless assistance of the mainland, the epidemic, which lasted for several months, was finally brought under control.

The warmth from the motherland has remained the same for many years.

Hong Kong and Macao people working in the Mainland can contribute to the housing provident fund and enjoy the same treatment as Mainland residents; Hong Kong residents who live in the Mainland and meet the qualifications can apply for a residence permit and enjoy three rights and six basic public services in accordance with the law at their place of residence in the Mainland And nine conveniences, covering employment, education, medical care, tourism, finance, etc.

"Everything has become more convenient, and our dreams have a better chance of being realized." Mai Qianyu said.

At the Tokyo Olympics held last year, athletes from Hong Kong, China performed brilliantly and achieved a historic breakthrough in medal performance. The Chinese Hong Kong team won the bronze medal in the table tennis women's team event, and stood on the podium at the same time as the Chinese team that won the gold medal. The five-star red flag and the Bauhinia flag rose at the same time in the passionate "March of the Volunteers". , Another vivid portrayal of the historical inevitability of shared glory. This situation has made countless Hong Kong people feel extremely proud from the bottom of their hearts.

The Hong Kong Island light show filmed in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong on June 25

Li Jing, the coach of the Chinese Hong Kong women's table tennis team, said that sports exchanges between Hong Kong and the mainland are very frequent. Hong Kong athletes have the opportunity to train with national team players and improve their skills through exchanges.

Hong Kong, which once hosted the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games under the support of the state, will participate in the hosting of the National Games for the first time in 2025. In this regard, Li Jing is full of expectations: "We will go all out to show our own level."

The outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan proposes to support Hong Kong in enhancing its status as an international financial, shipping, trade center and international aviation hub, and strengthen its functions as a global offshore RMB business hub, international asset management center and risk management center. Support Hong Kong in building an international innovation and technology center, an international legal and dispute resolution service center in the Asia-Pacific region, and a regional intellectual property trading center, support the development of Hong Kong's service industry in the direction of high-end and high value-added, and support Hong Kong in developing a cultural and artistic exchange center between China and foreign countries.

Hong Kong's strength lies in the motherland, and Hong Kong's opportunities lie in the motherland. Li Jiachao said that Hong Kong should give full play to its own advantages, enhance the international competitiveness of the eight centers, and follow this direction to better and faster integrate into the overall national development.

The deeper the roots, the thicker the leaves. Hong Kong has achieved a transition from chaos to governance, and is now in a critical period of transition from governance to prosperity. With the strong support of the central government and the strong backing of the great motherland, more and more Hong Kong compatriots believe that steadfast patriots will surely manage, build and develop Hong Kong well; We will surely create and share a better tomorrow for Hong Kong. Editor/Zhao E