Opinion | Strategic blueprint of CPC's Fourth Plenum opened a "window of opportunity" for Hong Kong

Eric Fung Kwok Yau, President of the Hong Kong Professionals (Beijing) Association, said in a recent interview with China Youth Daily that Communique of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) clearly identifies Hong Kong as a key hub in China's "dual circulations" development pattern, while assigning it a central mission in contributing to the nation's sci-tech strength and self-reliance. This, he noted, breaks away from the traditional perception of Hong Kong as a "passive beneficiary", instead highlighting its value as an "active contributor". It also provides cross-regional professionals like himself with a clearer dual path to serve both the nation and Hong Kong, and it reinforces Hong Kong society's confidence in its future with the solid backing from the Motherland.

As a professional deeply involved in both Beijing and Hong Kong, and as a CPPCC member, Fung said he was particularly impressed by the communiqué's phrasing of "working for long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao". "The shift from the term 'maintain lasting' in the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee to today's 'work for long-term' reflects a deeper understanding of Hong Kong's role," he said. "It demonstrates the central government's strategic resolve and strong policy support for steering Hong Kong from governance to revitalization amid a complex international environment."

In Fung's view, the strategic arrangements of the Fourth Plenary Session have opened a genuine "window of opportunity" for Hong Kong - but seizing this opportunity depends on proactive engagement. 

He highlighted culture, education, and talent cooperation were the "soul" of Greater Bay Area integration, with youth being the key drivers. His recommendations include expanding joint degree programmes under the existing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao university alliance so that Hong Kong's general education courses and mainland universities' practical training can become mutually connected; improving talent retention through the "Top Talent Pass Scheme" and linking Hong Kong's international financial network with innovation funding to create a complete talent pipeline of "attracting - cultivating - retaining". He also recommended using culture as a bridge to build youth consensus, enabling Hong Kong's young people to experience the warmth of national development by participating in mainland rural revitalization and community service, thereby strengthening the sense of "one family in the Greater Bay Area". (By Zhao Anqi and Zhao Tingting/China Youth Daily)