The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, met with a delegation of Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government for a national affairs study led by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, in Beijing this afternoon (April 21).
      
     Mrs Yeung expressed her gratitude to Mr Xia for his full affirmation of the work of the HKSAR civil servants as well as the encouragement and expectation for the Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments.
      
     She said, "Civil servants are the backbone of the HKSAR Government. Permanent Secretaries, as the most senior officers in the civil service, along with Heads of Departments, play a crucial role in implementing and executing government policies. We are committed, with our utmost efforts and unity, to fulfilling our duties, rendering full support to the Chief Executive in governance, steadfastly upholding the executive-led system, defending the bottom line of security and development, and delivering tangible benefits for the public, thereby starting a new chapter for the high-quality development of Hong Kong.
      
     "The National 15th Five-Year Plan is the blueprint and action plan for the country's economic and social development over the next five years, supporting Hong Kong in the consolidation and enhancement of its competitive edge across multiple key areas. Hong Kong is formulating its first five-year plan at full steam, which will serve as a collective action framework for Hong Kong. Under the leadership of the Chief Executive, the civil service, particularly the Permanent Secretaries, will proactively align their work with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and co-ordinate development across various sectors, so as to lay a more solid foundation for Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability and to better integrate into and serve the overall development of the country."
      
     In addition, the Director of Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Mr Chen Wenxin, gave the participants an analysis of the international landscape and China - United States relations at the National Academy of Governance this morning.
      
     The participants will study at the National Academy of Governance tomorrow (April 22) morning and will depart for a duty visit in Chengdu in the afternoon.

Ends/Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Issued at HKT 21:40

NNNN