THE Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said Monday that the new plan issued by the Central authorities for further developing a cooperation zone between Shenzhen and Hong Kong provides Hong Kong new opportunities and will be beneficial to the economic and social development of Hong Kong.

The plan will deepen Shenzhen-Hong Kong services cooperation and reflects the great importance that the Central Government attached to the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the wellbeing of Hong Kong people, a spokesperson of the office said in a statement.

Also on Monday, the Liaison Office of the Central Government in Hong Kong said that the new plan will enrich the implementation of “one country, two systems” and offer Hong Kong, which has returned from chaos to stability and is marching toward greater prosperity, a broader arena of development.

The new blueprint emphasizes on bringing Hong Kong’s traditional advantages of high-end professional services into full play, and will deepen opening up in areas such as services trade, finance and legal affairs in the zone, offering huge opportunities for Hong Kong’s professional talents and enterprises and helping Hong Kong to further integrate into the “domestic circulation” and “dual circulation” development, a spokesperson of the liaison office said.

In the near future, Hong Kong compatriots in Qianhai will be able to enjoy more favorable policies in areas from transport, communication to payment, and eligible Hong Kong and Macao residents can hold positions in statutory institutions, the spokesperson said, adding that Hong Kong will also serve as the arbitration site for resolving civil and commercial cases in the area.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam on Monday urged various sectors in Hong Kong to seize the opportunities from new plans concerning Qianhai and Hengqin.

The Qianhai plan will deepen reform and expand the scope of opening up, and enhance the level of cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, Lam said.

Not only does the plan give full play to Hong Kong’s long-held advantages in high-end professional services, and elevate the function of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, it also promotes long-term development for Hong Kong professional services, she said.

Hong Kong will capitalize on its own advantages to assist in promoting full liberalization of trade in services in Qianhai, greater mutual access of the financial markets and a higher level of opening up in legal matters, thereby expanding the room for development for professionals in different sectors and enterprises in Hong Kong, Lam said. (Xinhua)