Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pledged Beijing would support Hong Kong’s economic growth and maintain its long-term prosperity as he highlighted the promotion of the Greater Bay Area as part of efforts to ensure the global financial centre was “set to thrive” while delivering his final work report on Sunday.

The outgoing leader also underscored the need to uphold the constitutional order in Hong Kong and the principle of patriots administering local affairs, after noting Beijing had exercised effective jurisdiction over the city with the enactment of the national security law and the reform of its electoral system.

Li said the “one country, two systems” governing policy should be “fully, faithfully, and resolutely” implemented with a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong.