bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

STAFF

Premier Wen Jiabao gave relatively short shrift to Hong Kong and Macau in his final work report, devoting fewer words to the special administrative regions than in any of the previous nine years.
Wen dropped references to "developing the economy", "improving people's livelihoods" and "facilitating democracy" in the two cities, a feature of previous reports.
The three paragraphs of the 28-page report devoted to Hong Kong and Macau contained just 113 Chinese characters.
Wen stressed the importance of unity between Hong Kong and Macau and the mainland.
"We should rally our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macau around us and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of the two regions," he said.

	We should rally our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macau around us and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of the two regions
That echoed a call he made when Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying visited Beijing in December.
Repeating a phrase from last year's report, Wen said: "We should adhere to the principles of 'one country, two systems'; the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong; the people of Macau governing Macau; and both regions enjoying a high degree of autonomy."
In the past five years, the cities' "exchanges and co-operation with the mainland reached a new height", Wen said.
"We strengthened our work related to Hong Kong and Macau," he said. "Hong Kong and Macau are thriving and stable."
Maria Tam Wai-chu, head of the Hong Kong delegation to the National People's Congress, said the shorter remarks did not mean the significance of Hong Kong was on the decline.
"The central government's support for Hong Kong remains unchanged," she said, pointing to Hong Kong's role in the nation's 12th five-year plan and the signing of Closer Economic Partnership Agreement deals. "It is not necessary to put all the details into the report."
Yin Xiaojing, deputy director of the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference presidium, said the fact Wen's remarks were shorter "shows a change in the writing style" of the work report and a new style of government. "The central government strongly supports Hong Kong and is confident in its future," she said.
Another Hong Kong deputy to the NPC, Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, said: "Hong Kong is just a small part of China. As the whole report is shorter, it's normal that the coverage of Hong Kong and Macau is reduced."
Former chief secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, a CPPCC delegate, said the 12th five-year plan spelled out Hong Kong's role in the country's development.
"We Hongkongers should not pin too much hope on the country doing a lot of work for Hong Kong," he said.

Infographic Wen mentioned the word "development" the most in his work report. See the visual breakdown:



All-weather strategic partnership or friendly relationship? What to look for when China names ties with other nations

Why I miss the Chinese premier’s annual press conference at the close of the country’s ‘two sessions’

Why China should maintain open and inclusive debate about its economy

Chinese Premier Li Qiang stays close to home in his first big turn on the national stage

Wen Jiabao

Wen devotes fewer words to Hong Kong, Macau at NPC

Wen stressed the importance of unity between Hong Kong and Macau and the mainland. Photo: Simon Song

Wen highlights top six problems in Hong Kong for Leung Chun-ying

Leung Chun-ying briefs Wen Jiabao in Beijing in what was probably a swansong meeting for the outgoing premier. Photo: Xinhua

News

China

Observers say the fact Wen said less about SARs doesn't mean their significance has lessened


Wen dropped references to "developing the economy", "improving people's livelihoods" and "facilitating democracy" in the two cities, a feature of previous reports.


National People's Congress (NPC)