Hong Kong press Wednesday hailed the new five-year development blueprint endorsed at the annual session of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), believing it has offered great opportunities for the city's development.

For the first time, contents related to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has appeared in China's five-year development program, the 11th Five-Year Program (2006-2010), said an editorial published by Takungpao, a local Chinese daily.

The program, endorsed at the NPC session concluded Tuesday, made it clear to maintain Hong Kong as an international center for finance, trade and business.

This proved the Central Government's affirmation of Hong Kong's future, which has greatly inspired the people of Hong Kong, said the editorial.

Furthermore, the program outlined the development prospect for the provinces having close economic and trade ties with Hong Kong.

In the coming five years, the neighboring Guangdong Province is expected to maintain the GDP growth above 9 percent and further change its development style into one focusing on innovation.

These outlines therefore have provided opportunities for Hong Kong's development too, which will both benefit from and push forward the economic development of the whole region including Guangdong and other southern provinces, said an editorial published by Wen Wei Po, another Chinese daily.

Hong Kong media has closely followed the NPC session, with almost all local newspapers on Wednesday publishing front-page coverage of the conclusion of the session.

Source: Xinhua