Foreword
"The Outline of the 12th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China" (the National 12-5 Plan) was officially promulgated on 16 March 2011. For the first time, an individual chapter entitled "Maintaining the Long-term Prosperity and Stability of Hong Kong and Macao" is dedicated to Hong Kong and Macao. The significant functions and positioning of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the national development strategy was elaborated.
The dedicated chapter clearly sets out, among other things, the Central Authorities' support for Hong Kong –
- to consolidate and enhance its competitive advantages, including consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international centre for financial services, trade and shipping; and in particular, the support for Hong Kong's development as an offshore Renminbi centre and an international asset management centre;
- to nurture its emerging industries and develop the six industries where Hong Kong enjoys clear advantages to widen their co-operation areas and scope of services; and
- to deepen economic co-operation with the Mainland and continue to implement CEPA. It also confirms the significant functions and positioning of Hong Kong's co-operation with Guangdong under the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation, including the establishment of a financial co-operation zone and a world-class metropolitan cluster with Hong Kong's financial system taking the lead, and the support for Guangdong to open up its service industries for Hong Kong on a pilot basis and extending the pilot scheme to other regions gradually.
The relevant statements can help Hong Kong to leverage its unique advantages and strategic roles in the overall national development and contribute to the country's growth and progress, at the same time opening up new room for further co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The Government will continue to take forward the related work in complementing the National 12-5 Plan according to the "One Country, Two Systems" principle.
For details, please click here . 12th Five-Year Plan Details