As Beijing finalizes preparations for the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Saturday, people in Hong Kong and Macao are having their fingers crossed hoping the five-yearly event will usher in a new stage of reform and opening and bring about prosperity to the entire country.

The upcoming congress is being covered by local newspapers and people from all walks of life are voicing expectations for the event, slated to open on Monday.

"The CPC's 17th National Congress will have a profound impact on China's development," says Tsang Hin Chi, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. "I hope the CPC will continue to unite every force it can to score greater achievements in the country's development."

Chan Wing Kee, a Standing Committee member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, says he is most interested in finding out how the CPC is to solve problems concerning the livelihood of the people.

"As the CPC is widely expected to chart a new direction for the country, I hope its 17th national congress will pay more attention to problems concerning poverty-alleviation and improvements of the people's lives," Chan said.

Chan said the business circle will be particularly keen on the opening of the Party Congress as relations between Hong Kong and the Chinese interior regions are getting closer.

"We hope the CPC will make clearer policies on which direction the country will steer in the future," he said, "thus we could invest accordingly, do good business and promote further prosperity of Hong Kong."

Macao Daily, Macao's mostly widely read Chinese language newspaper, carried an editorial on Saturday saying the country is "marching toward scientific development and a harmonious society".

It says China is in a period of peaceful development and therefore has the opportunity, conditions and capacity to achieve its goal toward a moderately prosperous society.

The upcoming Party Congress will enable China to cope with its challenges by furthering development in a more scientific manner, it says. "It's a great mission times have endowed on the CPC."

A communique of the Seventh Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee of the CPC issued on Friday says Hong Kong and Macao have continued to maintain prosperity and stability and more efforts have been made to solve the Taiwan issue.

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2007)