Major Hong Kong media all published commentaries Tuesday, congratulating the opening of the Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing.
Ta Kung Pao said in a commentary that the guidelines and strategies relating to the overall development of the country in the year to come will be formulated at the NPC session, so the entire Chinese people are concentrated on the session and place on it their ardent hopes.
Hong Kong has maintained closer ties with the mainland since its return to China in 1997, the commentary said, adding that the Hong Kong people now care more about the state affairs, in addition to the local issues.
"Hong Kong will be prosperous if the country does well," said the commentary.
In an editorial, Wen Wei Po also expressed hopes for Hong Kong's deputies to the NPC and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee to play their proper role in discussing state affairs at the NPC and CPPCC sessions.
They should highlight the role of Hong Kong as a bridge between the Chinese mainland and the outside world, and put forth more constructive opinions to the state, it added.
Hong Kong Commercial Daily News pointed out that Hong Kong benefits most from the country's prosperity, adding that the national strategy to develop China's economy will bring enormous opportunities to Hong Kong.
All the Hong Kong television channels aired the NPC session live Tuesday morning.
(People's Daily March 6, 2002)
