?Hong Kong will have greater room for development in 2010, and opportunities will come one after another, Chinese Central Government's top liaison official in Hong Kong said Friday.

"The city will have greater room for development as China speeds up the implementation of the Pearl River Delta development strategy and the process of the internalization of Renminbi," said Peng Qinghua, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) when addressing a Spring Festival reception hosted by the office.

Development opportunities will also come along with the launch of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and major infrastructure projects such as Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge and Guangzhou- Shenzhen-Hong Kong express rail.

The 12th five-year national development program which is being drafted will provide a new platform for Hong Kong to play a bigger role in the country's shift of economic growth pattern and economic restructuring, he said.

"We firmly believe that the SAR government and people from all walks of life will seize the opportunity with concerted efforts to maintain the hard-won fair status and promote the stable social and economic development of Hong Kong," he said.

"The Central Government has repeatedly said that no matter what difficulties Hong Kong encounters, it will as always render strong support," he said.

In the new year, the Central Government will continue to unswervingly implement the principles of "one country, two systems ", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, he said.

The Central Government will also continue to unswervingly support the Chief Executive and the SAR government to govern by law, and continue to unswervingly support Hong Kong in its effort to stabilize the financial sector, develop the economy and improve people's livelihood, while working with Hong Kong compatriots to maintain the city's prosperity and stability, he said.

"The Liaison Office will better shoulder the responsibilities for communication and liaison, build extensive links with all sectors of the society, contribute our unremitting efforts to promoting the exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland, and make new efforts for Hong Kong's prosperity and stability," he said.

Some 4,000 people, including HKSAR Chief Executive Tsang Yam-kuen as well as foreign diplomats in Hong Kong attended the reception.