Premier Li Keqiang today announced that the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Stock Connect will be launched this year, while Chief Executive CY Leung said the initiative can boost Hong Kong's financial services and stock market.
Mr Leung told reporters today that this would be the second mutual stock market access initiative after the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect and that it could bring a major boost to Hong Kong's economic development in the coming year.
He will discuss how to prepare for the initiative with the relevant organisations and consider ways to improve the arrangement by taking into account the experience gained from the Hong Kong-Shanghai Stock Connect.
Mr Leung added that today's announcement complements the National 13th Five-Year Plan which supports Hong Kong in enhancing its role and function in the country's economic development and opening up.
It heralds bright prospects for Hong Kong's financial services and economy as Hong Kong is the nation's most internationalised and open city, serving a dual role as the country's global finance centre and the world's Chinese finance centre.
Mr Leung also spoke about his visit to the Hainan Danzhou National Agricultural Sci-Tech Zone yesterday, where he learned about new agriculture research and development.
He said the Government will promulgate a new agricultural policy to rehabilitate agricultural land and improve the scenery in rural areas.
Regarding the meeting between the Premier and the Hong Kong & Macau delegation this morning, Mr Leung said he reported Hong Kong's progress in developing innovation and technology to Mr Li who had expressed great interest in the issue during the Chief Executive's last duty visit in December.
Mr Leung added that this year's Boao forum includes a session on "Innovation & the New Economy of Hong Kong" which echoed the national plan's emphasis on this area.
With a supportive innovation and technology atmosphere forming in Hong Kong, the Central Government's support and co-operation from Mainland provinces, the prospects are good for Hong Kong's innovation and technology development, he said.
