The Civil Service College (CSC) held the concluding lecture of the in-depth programme on “one country, two systems” and contemporary China at the Central Government Offices today.

The programme was organised in collaboration with Peking University's Institute for Hong Kong & Macau Studies to further strengthen the training for senior officials and directorate civil servants.

Around 170 senior officials, including politically appointed officials and directorate officers, attended the lecture given by Peking University Institute of New Structural Economics Dean Prof Lin Yifu.

Prof Lin explained how, amidst profound changes unseen in a century, new quality productive forces can be harnessed to fulfil the two major tasks - Chinese modernisation and high-quality development as outlined at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Addressing the lecture, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki said the development of new quality productive forces is closely linked to Hong Kong’s better integration into the country’s overall development.

He pointed out that the Government Work Report this year clearly prioritises “striving to modernise the industrial system and developing new quality productive forces at a faster pace” as the first major task.

The report also outlines a comprehensive plan across various fronts of the country’s agenda, providing clear guidance for Hong Kong as it embraces new responsibilities and breaks new ground on the new journey towards Chinese modernisation and high-quality development, he added.

Mr Chan also encouraged colleagues attending the lecture to reflect on how to better consolidate and promote Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle and the strategic positioning of the “eight centres”, so as to better capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths to serve the country's needs.

The lecture was followed by a graduation ceremony officiated by Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung and Peking University Vice-President Prof Fang Fang.

A total of 71 participants who had successfully completed the programme were awarded certificates of completion jointly issued by Peking University and the CSC.

Addressing the ceremony, Mrs Yeung thanked the State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office and Peking University for their support for the programme.

Congratulating all the participants on their successful completion of the programme, Mrs Yeung encouraged them to apply the knowledge and insights gained from this series of 12 lectures to their work.

She also urged them to stay united to complement the Hong Kong SAR Government in giving full play to Hong Kong’s unique strengths for better integration into the country’s overall development, jointly contributing to the steadfast and successful implementation of “one country, two systems”.

About 2,100 senior officials and directorate officers attended the programme’s lectures in person or online.