Chief Executive John Lee today extended his warmest welcome to Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Shi Taifeng for his visit and inspection of Hong Kong.

Mr Shi is also Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee.

While meeting at Government House to discuss issues of mutual interest, apart from expressing his gratitude to Mr Shi for visiting with a delegation to inspect the city's latest developments, Mr Lee said that such a visit shows his care and concern for Hong Kong.

Furthermore, the Chief Executive noted the recently concluded Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC in Beijing.

He said that the plenary session highlighted the need to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping, and trade centre by harnessing the institutional strengths of the "one country, two systems" principle, and the need to support the city in building itself into an international hub for high-calibre talent.

The plenary session also underscored the need to improve relevant mechanisms for Hong Kong to play a greater role in the country's opening to the outside world and to encourage co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by fostering closer alignment of rules and mechanisms, he added.

Mr Lee pointed out that in addition to steering the country towards Chinese modernisation and high-quality development, the plenary session also provided important guidance for the long-term development, prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

He stressed that Hong Kong, including its Government and all sectors of the community, should earnestly learn, have a thorough understanding of and implement the spirit of the session, and make active efforts to understand, respond to and embrace changes while staying proactive, pragmatic, principled, innovative, perseverant and dedicated, so that it could shoulder the responsibility of deepening the reform and uphold the spirit of the session in the city's everyday affairs.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will fully and accurately implement the "one country, two systems" principle, with a focus on creating strong impetus for growth, improving the city's governance, resolutely implementing the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and strengthening the patriotic forces for the city, Mr Lee emphasised.

He added that it will continue to actively promote efforts from different sectors of the community in leveraging Hong Kong's strengths to serve the country's needs, in a bid to contribute to the building a great country in all respects and advancing toward national rejuvenation through Chinese modernisation.