DAB vice chairman: Mainland's growth benefits HK

A political advisor from Hong Kong said Chinese mainland's growth contributes to a stable and prosperous Hong Kong, which will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its return to China from the U.K.

"Hong Kong didn't collapse and has survived various financial crises after it returned to China in 1997. We should thank the hard work of the administration of every chief executive and the big support from the central government," said Pang Cheung-Wai, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and vice chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB).

"With China’s rapid growth, Hong Kong and Macao can settle into stability and free from severe crises," he said before paying tribute to Tung Chee-hwa, the first chief executive of Hong Kong, "he was there with almost nothing, and most of the government staff were still from the colonial administration of Hong Kong. He started from zero, which was not easy and deserves our appreciation."

Pang is in Beijing to attend the annual meeting of China's top political advisory body, which will run through until March 13.

As for some of the opposition's noise in recent years and the so-called “Hong Kong independence,” Pang said the mainland has actually granted Hong Kong very high autonomy.

"Everyone talks about two political systems these days, but they should also know one nation is the bottom line, and that can't be challenged," he said.