Theme 2 Revision: Our Country since Reform and Opening-up
BasicTheme 2 covers reform and opening-up with rising national strength, Hong Kong's integration into national development, and participation in international affairs — revision means timeline anchors, policy matching and the easily missed 'five connectivities'.
- Theme 2's line: reform lifts national power, plans bring Hong Kong in, international affairs show influence
- Timeline anchors: 1978, 1980, 1987, 2001, 2003, 2013, 2018, 2019
- National power is multi-field; living standards need evidence from income, education, healthcare, poverty reduction and more
文體小知識：國情知識說明文——複習課：以時間線與政策清單整理主題二，聚焦概念配對與易錯點，直備資料回應題。
§Text Passage
1Theme 2 centres on our country since reform and opening-up, with three topics: people's life and national strength; national development and Hong Kong's integration into the overall national development; and participation in international affairs. The narrative line: reform at home lifts people's lives and comprehensive national power; development plans then bring Hong Kong into the national development; finally the country acts and initiates on the international stage. Follow this line so policies and dates keep their context.
2Anchor the timeline: reform launched at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in December 1978; four special economic zones including Shenzhen in 1980; the 'three-step' strategy in 1987; WTO accession in December 2001; CEPA signed in 2003; the Belt and Road Initiative proposed in 2013; the HZMB and the XRL Hong Kong section opened in 2018; the GBA Outline Development Plan released in February 2019.
3Common question angles: chart questions on living standards or national strength, asking you to read trends and explain them with reform strategies; policy questions on Hong Kong's positioning and opportunities under the GBA, CEPA or the 14th Five-Year Plan; initiative questions on the BRI's background and 'five connectivities', or the country's actions and influence in international affairs.
4Errors cluster in matching: CEPA is the closer economic partnership arrangement between the mainland and Hong Kong signed in 2003 — not the 2001 WTO accession; the 'five connectivities' are five items — policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds — all must be named; the 'three steps' run from basic subsistence to moderate prosperity to a moderately developed country; comprehensive national power covers the economy, culture, natural resources, education, science and technology, national defence and more, not the economy alone.
1Summary 重點摘要
Theme 2 covers reform and opening-up with rising national strength, Hong Kong's integration into national development, and participation in international affairs — revision means timeline anchors, policy matching and the easily missed 'five connectivities'.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The development course launched at the Third Plenary Session in December 1978, driving economic reform and opening to the world.
Areas such as Shenzhen established from 1980 with special economic policies, a landmark of the coastal development strategy.
The goals set out in 1987: basic subsistence, moderate prosperity, then a moderately developed country, later adjusted.
A measure of overall national strength covering the economy, culture, natural resources, education, science and technology, defence and more.
The national plan set every five years; the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) states the positioning supporting Hong Kong.
The '9+2' city cluster under the Outline Development Plan of February 2019, with Hong Kong as a core city.
The mainland–Hong Kong economic partnership arrangement signed in 2003 and implemented from 2004, easing trade and investment.
Diplomacy carried out since the 21st century across energy, culture, healthcare, trade and other fields.
The international cooperation initiative proposed in 2013, comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
The BRI's cooperation priorities: policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: The Theme 2 knowledge mapDraw the three topics as a causal map: people's life and national strength covers the launch and strategies of reform and opening-up and the rise in living standards and national power; national development and integration covers Five-Year Plans, the GBA and CEPA, plus the concept of all-round diplomacy; international affairs covers the country's actions, initiatives and influence, with Hong Kong as the bridge. Locate a question in domestic development, integration or international participation before retrieving concepts and examples.
- Step 2: The reform timeline and strategiesKey facts: the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in December 1978 launched reform and opening-up; Shenzhen and three other special economic zones were established in 1980; the 'three-step' strategy was set out in 1987 — basic subsistence, moderate prosperity, then a moderately developed country. Strategies include seeking truth from facts, prioritising the economy, letting some people get rich first toward common prosperity, coastal SEZs and a socialist market economy. Pair strategies with dates, citing SEZs for the coastal strategy, so answers are well grounded.
- Step 3: Living standards and national powerEvidence of rising living standards includes higher incomes, changing consumption, better education, better healthcare, longer life expectancy and sharply fewer people in poverty. Comprehensive national power covers the economy, culture, natural resources, education, science and technology, national defence and more. Chart questions ask you to read the trend from statistics and then explain it with reform and opening-up; describe first, explain second — the clearest order, and the one the assessment objectives reward.
- Step 4: National plans and Hong Kong's opportunitiesMemorise the policy list: the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) states its support for Hong Kong's positioning as an international financial, shipping and trade centre; the GBA Outline Development Plan was released in February 2019 on the '9+2' layout; the HZMB and the XRL Hong Kong section opened in 2018 for infrastructure connectivity; CEPA was signed in 2003 and implemented from 2004; and the country conducts all-round diplomacy across energy, culture, healthcare and trade. For opportunity questions, combine plan positioning, infrastructure and institutional arrangements.
- Step 5: Actions and initiatives in international affairsClassify the actions: rescue and assistance — earthquake relief, foreign aid and participation in UN peacekeeping; organisations and forums — founding the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and hosting the Boao Forum for Asia; initiatives — the Belt and Road proposed in 2013 with the five connectivities as cooperation priorities. The influence: stronger relations with other countries, a favourable environment for development, closer economic and cultural exchange, and higher international standing; Hong Kong serves as an important bridge between the country and global markets. For influence questions, write point by point, each tied to one action.
- Step 6: Common question anglesThree question types recur: chart analysis, giving statistics on living standards or national power and asking for trends plus explanations; policy application, using plan excerpts or news to ask about Hong Kong's positioning, opportunities or the benefits of cooperation; initiative comprehension, asking about the BRI's content or the influence of international participation. Check whether the question asks for 'changes' or 'opportunities': the former needs trends plus causes, the latter arguments plus policy backing — the two approaches differ.
- Step 7: The matching-pitfall checklistReview the pitfalls before the exam: CEPA, signed in 2003, is a mainland–Hong Kong arrangement and not China's WTO accession in December 2001; the five connectivities must all be written — omitting any is incomplete; the three steps run basic subsistence, moderate prosperity, moderately developed; national power is more than the economy, covering technology, education, defence and more; the GBA Outline belongs to 2019, not to be confused with other years. Make self-made comparison cards and flip through them once before the exam.
5Worked example Example
Data-response practice: Data 1 excerpts the GBA Outline Development Plan on building an international financial hub and enhancing infrastructure connectivity; Data 2 reports the HZMB and the XRL Hong Kong section opening in 2018. Using the data and what you have learned, identify two opportunities for Hong Kong in the GBA and explain them.
- Read the question: 'two opportunities' with explanation — each needs a point, data evidence and a knowledge link
- Opportunity one: financial development — cite Data 1's international financial hub positioning and link Hong Kong's strengths as an international financial centre
- Opportunity two: infrastructure connectivity — cite Data 2's bridge and rail openings and explain how easier travel widens life and career space
- Organise and conclude: each opportunity in point–data–knowledge order, adding institutional arrangements such as CEPA in the conclusion
- Answer: Two opportunities stand out. First, financial development: Data 1 shows the GBA building an international financial hub; as an international financial centre with free capital flows and internationally aligned institutions, Hong Kong can bridge the GBA and global markets, driving financial and professional services. Second, infrastructure connectivity: Data 2 shows the HZMB and the XRL Hong Kong section opening in 2018, making travel to mainland cities faster, accelerating flows of people, goods and capital, and widening the space for Hong Kong residents to work, do business and live. Together with institutional arrangements such as CEPA, Hong Kong can leverage its strengths and share the fruits of national development in the GBA.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1When was reform and opening-up launched?
Q2What is the order of goals in the 'three-step' strategy?
Q3When was CEPA signed, and what is its nature?
Q4What are the 'five connectivities'?
Q5What role does Hong Kong play in the country's international affairs?
8Recap Recap
- Theme 2's line: reform lifts national power, plans bring Hong Kong in, international affairs show influence
- Timeline anchors: 1978, 1980, 1987, 2001, 2003, 2013, 2018, 2019
- National power is multi-field; living standards need evidence from income, education, healthcare, poverty reduction and more
- Three layers for opportunity answers: plan positioning, infrastructure connectivity, institutional arrangements
- Matching pitfalls: CEPA is not WTO accession; all five connectivities; the three steps in order