2月11日，崔建春特派员在《南华早报》发表题为《携手并进 再续香江传奇》的英文署名文章，在中国农历新年之际，回顾过去一年“一国两制”在港实践取得的亮眼成绩，并展望未来强调香港将把握好国家和世界机遇，进一步发挥“超级联系人”和“超级增值人”作用，外交公署将继续为香港发展提供助力。文章11日亦在该报网页版刊登。全文如下：
携手并进 再续香江传奇
蛇年新春踏浪至，维港两岸跃金鳞。香港，这颗洋溢着蓬勃生机与无限活力的“东方之珠”，正以“一国两制”的磅礴伟力为墨，在以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴的宏伟蓝图上书写锦绣新篇，也为世界各国创造合作共赢的新机遇。
2024年是香港回归祖国27周年。过去一年，“一国两制”在港实践取得亮眼成绩，进一步向世人证明“一国两制”是个好制度。正如习近平主席在庆祝澳门回归祖国25周年大会上指出，“一国两制”具有显著制度优势和强大生命力，是保持香港、澳门长期繁荣稳定的好制度，是服务强国建设、民族复兴伟业的好制度，是实现不同社会制度和平共处、合作共赢的好制度，必须长期坚持。“一国两制”蕴含的和平、包容、开放、共享的价值理念，是中国的，也是世界的，值得共同守护。
这一年，香港筑牢安全屏障，护航高质量发展。特区历史性完成基本法第23条立法，进一步筑牢香港发展的安全根基，让香港可以昂首阔步在由治及兴的大道上全速前进。特区政府全力拼经济、加速谋发展、积极惠民生，推动解决住房、医疗等民生难题，加强对外交流合作，不断提升香港国际影响力。去年全年香港经济预估增长2.5%，展现稳中有进态势。
这一年，香港金字招牌更加光亮。金融方面，香港在2024年9月《全球金融中心指数》报告中重回全球第三位；香港位居全球四大新股市场之一，港交所去年总集资额高达830亿港元。航运方面，香港在2024国际航运中心发展指数中再次被评为第四大国际航运中心，并成功举办“香港海运周2024”，吸引了来自全球14500多名业界人士参与。贸易方面，香港连续被菲沙研究所评定为全球最自由经济体，去年母企在海外及内地的驻港公司数目创下新高，增至9960间。瑞士洛桑国际管理发展学院发布《2024年世界竞争力年报》，香港综合排名升至全球第五，其中“国际贸易”指标排名全球第一。这些数据和事实充分证明，香港国际金融、航运、贸易中心地位得以进一步巩固提升。
这一年，香港新兴动能更加强劲。香港积极主动识变、应变、求变，在巩固自身优势同时不断发掘新增长点，促进经济持续多元发展。在《2024年世界数码竞争力排名》中，香港上升至全球第7位。去年香港初创企业数同比增长约10%，达到4694家。特区先后推出“产学研1+计划”和“新型工业加速计划”，积极推动科研成果转化和新智能生产设施实现量产。香港国际机场三跑道系统正式启用，为香港经济腾飞增加“新跑道”。2024年，《粤港澳大湾区发展规划纲要》发布5周年之际，北部都会区开发提速换档。香港国际高端人才集聚高地效应显著，截至去年11月底，各项人才入境计划收到42万宗申请，已有17.5万名人才偕家属来港。香港发展新质生产力条件优越、实力雄厚。
这一年，香港社会文化繁荣多彩。特区政府推出文艺创意产业发展蓝图，共提出71项具体措施，大力推动“无处不旅游”“日夜都缤纷”，全年共举办超过240项盛事，越来越多世界游客接踵而至。融入了京剧元素的意大利歌剧《图兰朵》在香港演出，不同的中外文化艺术在香港得以碰撞交流。在巴黎奥运会上，香港运动员以2金2铜的历史性成绩为这座城市增添了光荣与自豪，充分诠释了拼搏奋斗的“狮子山精神”。香港中外文化艺术交流中心地位愈加凸显。
2025年是国家全面完成“十四五”规划收官之年，也是香港实现更高水平发展的关键一年。习近平主席指出，要发挥独特优势、强化内联外通，让“中国香港”“中国澳门”国际大都市的品牌更加靓丽。习主席的重要讲话为香港未来发展指明了方向。香港有能力充分发挥背靠祖国、联通世界的独特优势，把握好国家和世界机遇，拓展畅通便捷的国际联系，进一步当好“超级联系人”和“超级增值人”。外交公署将继续充分发挥外交所长、服务特区所需，为进一步巩固提升香港国际金融、航运、贸易三大中心地位和国际高端人才聚集高地、持续推进粤港澳大湾区建设、深入参与高质量共建“一带一路”提供更多助力。
潮平两岸阔，风正一帆悬。中华民族伟大复兴的巨轮正在乘风破浪前行，香港特区由治及兴的航线也更加明确。我们相信，在中央政府大力支持下，在特区政府有为施政下，在全体香港市民众志成城下，“一国两制”香港实践必将更加行稳致远，“东方之珠”必将绽放更加璀璨光彩。
Hong Kong’s pearl will shine brighter under “one country, two systems”
In the Year of the Snake, Hong Kong, the “Pearl of the Orient” will continue to help build China into a great, modern, socialist country in all respects and achieve national rejuvenation. In the over 27 years since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, its remarkable achievements have shown that “one country, two systems” is a good framework.
As President Xi Jinping pointed out last December, at the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to China, one country, two systems, “with its distinctive institutional strengths and strong vitality, is a good system that sustains the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau”.
Xi added: “It is a good system that facilitates endeavours to build China into a great country and achieve national rejuvenation, and it is a good system for ensuring peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit between different social systems. So we must stay committed to this cause. The values embodied in the cause of one country, two systems, namely, peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing, are relevant to not only China but also the whole world, and they should be cherished by us all.”
Last year, Hong Kong strengthened its security safeguards to ensure high-quality development by completing the historic legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, passing its own Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and solidifying the foundation for its effective governance and prosperity.
It also boosted economic development, worked on pressing issues such as housing and healthcare, strengthened external exchanges and cooperation and enhanced its international prestige. The economy grew by 2.5 per cent last year, showing a steady, progressive trend.
Last year, Hong Kong’s brand also shone brighter. Last September, it reclaimed third position on the Global Financial Centres Index and the stock exchange raised over HK$83 billion (US$10.66 billion) in initial public offerings as the world’s fourth top IPO fundraiser.
In shipping, Hong Kong ranked fourth again on the 2024 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index and the Hong Kong Maritime Week last November attracted more than 14,500 industry professionals from around the world.
In trade, Hong Kong was again recognised by the Fraser Institute as the world’s freest economy, even as a record 9,960 companies from the mainland and overseas set up offices in the city last year. Hong Kong rose to fifth place on the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, ranking first in international trade and business legislation.
Last year, Hong Kong also made great efforts to explore new growth drivers. It came in seventh in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking last year, which saw start-ups in Hong Kong increase by 10 per cent to reach a record 4,694.
Hong Kong launched initiatives such as the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme and extended others, like the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme, to promote the market application of research and the mass production of smart manufacturing facilities.
The city’s three-runway system officially commenced operations – adding a runway to help Hong Kong’s economy take off. Last year was also the fifth anniversary of the unveiling of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area development plan, and saw plans for the Northern Metropolis accelerate.
Hong Kong has also become a hub for international high-calibre talent. Its talent schemes have received more than 420,000 applications, of which 175,000, along with their families, have arrived. Clearly, Hong Kong has conditions favourable to and a strong capability for developing “new quality productive forces”.
Last year, Hong Kong’s social and cultural landscape flourished. The government introduced a development blueprint for its cultural and creative industries, pushing concepts such as “tourism is everywhere”. Over the year, more than 240 major events were held, attracting an increasing number of global visitors.
Hong Kong is a platform where Chinese and foreign cultural arts interact, such as when Opera Hong Kong reinterpreted the Italian opera Turandot last year. At the Paris Olympics, Hong Kong athletes achieved historic feats, winning two golds and two bronzes, exemplifying the Lion Rock spirit of hard work and perseverance. Hong Kong’s status as a centre for East-West cultural exchange is becoming more prominent.
The year 2025 is the final one in China’s 14th five-year plan and a crucial one for Hong Kong to achieve higher-level development.
President Xi last year emphasised the need to leverage the unique strengths of Hong Kong and Macau, to reinforce their connectivity with both the mainland and the world, so the reputation of “Hong Kong, China” and “Macau, China” as international metropolises will grow stronger.
His words point the way for Hong Kong’s development. As a “superconnector” and “super value-adder”, Hong Kong is well-positioned to seize opportunities from both the mainland and the globe through its unique advantage of enjoying both the strong support of the motherland and close international connections.
The commissioner’s office of China’s foreign ministry in Hong Kong will continue to mobilise diplomatic resources to meet Hong Kong’s needs, provide more support to consolidate its position as an international financial, shipping and trading centre as well as a global hub for high-calibre talent, and help the city play an active part in the Greater Bay Area and in high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
As an ancient Chinese poem reads: “With high tide and tailwind, it is time to sail a smooth ride.” The giant ship of national rejuvenation is sailing forward and Hong Kong is on the course of good governance and prosperity.
We believe, with strong support from the central government, the service-oriented Hong Kong administration, the united efforts of all Hong Kong residents, one country, two systems will make solid progress in Hong Kong, and the Pearl of the Orient will shine even more brilliantly.