The Civil Service Bureau held a session today on the Spirit of the President's Important Speech at the Central Government Offices. Chief Executive John Lee attended as a keynote speaker to enable the participants to obtain a deeper understanding of the spirit of President Xi Jinping's crucial address.

President Xi delivered an important speech at the meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

In his speech, President Xi raised “four musts" for the new administration: we must fully and faithfully implement the principle of “one country, two systems”; we must uphold the central government's overall jurisdiction while securing the Hong Kong SAR's high degree of autonomy; we must ensure that Hong Kong is administered by patriots; and we must maintain Hong Kong's distinctive status and advantages.

President Xi also laid down “four proposals” for the newly inaugurated Government, ie further improving its governance, continuing to create strong impetus for growth, earnestly addressing people's concerns and difficulties in livelihood and working together to safeguard harmony and stability.

Addressing the session, Mr Lee said the President’s speech reflects in full his care, attention and support for the Hong Kong SAR as well as the country's staunch and firm commitment to the full and faithful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”. It is of high significance as an important milestone.

He noted that President Xi's address sets the agenda for good governance and development of Hong Kong, and provides crucial guidance on governance by the Hong Kong SAR Government in the coming five years.

“I hope that the top echelon and civil servants of the Hong Kong SAR Government will seriously study and comprehend President Xi's important speech, grasp its core essence, respect and safeguard the country's fundamental systems on their own volition, and build it into their own work.”

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam also shared his thoughts and feelings at the session.

The relevant content of President Xi's speech was also quoted by Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung, in her letter of July 4 to all members of the civil service, when encouraging every civil servant to strive for a better future for the community, implement “one country, two systems” to the full and make a concerted effort to start a new chapter for Hong Kong.

The session was attended by over 100 participants, including secretaries and deputy secretaries of departments, directors of bureaus and other principal officials, members of the Executive Council as well as permanent secretaries and heads of departments.