Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on Sunday expressed their gratitude to the central government for its care and concern for Hong Kong, vowing to unite all sectors in the community to fight against COVID-19 and contribute to the city's long-term development.

Their remarks came after Vice-Premier Han Zheng, who is in charge of Hong Kong and Macao affairs, met with Hong Kong and Macao members of the CPPCC National Committee in Beijing during the annual session of the nation's top political advisory body, which started on Friday.

Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, a Hong Kong member of the CPPCC National Committee, said he was highly inspired by Han's concern about the pandemic situation in Hong Kong and the central government's full support for the city to win the anti-pandemic fight.

Han's speech showed the central government's unceasing care for Hong Kong, and has greatly inspired all sectors in the city to defeat the raging fifth wave of infections, he said.

The central government has supported Hong Kong in many ways, including delivering various supplies and sending the most elite medical experts to the city, Lam noted.

So Cheung-wing, another Hong Kong member of the CPPCC National Committee, said Han's remarks represent a wake-up call to the Hong Kong community, including the SAR government and the medical sector, to actively engage themselves in fighting the pandemic.

During the hour-long meeting with the Hong Kong and Macao deputies to the CPPCC, Han expressed the central government's care and concern for Hong Kong residents. He was particularly concerned about the conditions of children and the elderly, and asked Hong Kong to boost the vaccination among elderly people and reduce the morbidity rate of severe cases, as well as the mortality rate, as soon as possible, So said.

So said Han also instructed the CPPCC members to fully cooperate with the SAR government in the anti-pandemic battle. Han said the SAR government should not be weary of their efforts with the central government's full support.

Calling Han's speech "sincere" and "in-depth", Kenneth Fok Kai-kong, also a Hong Kong member of the CPPCC National Committee, said the vice-premier expressed the central government's expectations of the SAR government to better fulfill its main responsibilities and unite people from all walks of life.

Han said efforts should be made to protect the lives of the underprivileged in fighting the pandemic, according to Fok.