Policy Address

Chapter X    Closing Remarks

282. Today, Hong Kong is at the critical juncture of advancing from stability to prosperity. We are moving through an irreversible economic transition, but it is an essential process for a stronger and more robust economy in the future.

283. Over the decades, Hong Kong has undergone multiple economic transitions. Once, the bustling Sheung Wan night market (the "Dai-tat-dei") sold paraffin lamps that were a big business until modern malls made them unnecessary. Bustling factories that once competed for female labour have since relocated their production lines to the Mainland, opening new horizons for the manufacturers. Pagers, once a common sight in every hand, have been replaced by smartphones, leaving behind empty pager shops as relics of a past era. Each change brought about a stronger economy and higher income for the people.

284. These transformations were possible because generations of Hong Kong people have worked hard, stayed flexible, and never given up. That grit is part of our DNA, and it will continue to be the engine that drives us forward.