(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive John Lee today thanked CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong for highlighting what he thinks are the important directions and opportunities that lie for ahead Hong Kong.

His remarks came after he attended a sharing session last Friday in Shenzen where Mr Xia was present, along with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials and representatives from the business and commerce sectors.

At a media session ahead of this morning’s Executive Council meeting, Mr Lee explained that Mr Xia has a great heart and love for Hong Kong.

“I think Director Xia’s points are - that this is our common home, and all of us should make Hong Kong our common home, a good place to live for everybody to realise their dreams and for things to really thrive.

“His urges are really to tell enterprises, investors and business people to think of the overall good of Hong Kong, the importance of everybody within the family to play his part and to contribute. And of course, enterprises can make their decisions, but the key point is, how much you love this place.”

Mr Lee stressed that in addition to reminding them about the risks, Mr Xia also highlighted the opportunities and the advantages ahead, while mentioning the complexity of the world that we are facing.

“Our country is always the strongest backing of Hong Kong and has been rolling out many different measures to help Hong Kong’s development and to promote Hong Kong’s interests.

“All these things are said, with a very kind heart of love, to ask us to wake up to the challenges and all collectively, to strengthen our competitiveness, to ensure that we will continuously develop and make this a better home for us all.”