HONG KONG, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The continuous development and prosperity of the motherland not only gives Hong Kong strength to rise to challenges, but also provides opportunities for Hong Kong to explore new directions for its development, Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said Sunday.
Lam made the remarks at the National Day Reception in Celebration of the 68th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Recalling her personal experience when she visited Beijing as a university student in 1979, Lam described the pace of development of the Chinese mainland during the past decades as "astonishing."
"After nearly 40 years of reform and opening up, China has made big strides forward: from managing to stand on its feet to becoming prosperous and strong, and is now the second largest economy in the world," she said, "The quality of life of its people has continued to improve. Internationally, China plays a very important role in various areas such as politics, economics, technology and environmental protection."
Lam said that during the past 20 years, leveraging its position as a special administrative region of the PRC, "Hong Kong has witnessed, participated in and benefitted from the continuous reform and opening up of our country...Hong Kong people have acquired a better understanding of our country and fostered deep emotional bonds with the people in the Mainland."
"As long as we capitalize on our strengths, stay focused, seize the opportunities before us and stand united, I am sure that Hong Kong can reach even greater heights," she said.
