Holden Chow Ho-ding, another Hong Kong lawmaker, said Xi delivered a very inspiring speech upon his arrival on Thursday.

"It gives us a lot of motivation and a great boost because, in his short speech, he actually highlighted the fact that 'one country, two systems'is indeed the best arrangement for Hong Kong," he said.

"As long as we have an unwavering commitment to safeguard 'one country, two systems', we will achieve more in the years to come," he added.

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a Hong Kong lawmaker and convener of the Executive Council of the new-term SAR government, said thanks to the efforts of the central government and changes made to the city's electoral system, Hong Kong now has a good foundation to start anew.

Referring to the great importance of Xi's visit, Ip said many people in the city are excited about it, as he had played an important role in the city's transition from chaos to order and peace.

Ip said Xi attaches great importance to the city's development of innovation, technology and culture, which will facilitate the city's integration into the nation's development.

Innes Tang, chairman of Politihk Social Strategic, a local nonprofit organization, was thrilled to see Xi visiting Hong Kong, saying that the visit offers a boost and encouragement to the SAR's residents.

In Tang's opinion, Xi's visit and the remarks he made upon his arrival served as a pat on the back for Hong Kong. "With the strong backing of the central government, we are brimming with confidence for Hong Kong's future," Tang said.

Chen Shuman, Li Bingcun and Willa Wu in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

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