Beijing’s top official for Hong Kong affairs is “very confident” about the city’s “high-quality development,” Chief Secretary Eric Chan has said as the politician began his week-long Hong Kong visit.
Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO), arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday. The visit is intended for Xia to understand Hong Kong’s economic development and district administration matters, according to a HKMAO statement.
Xia’s first stop in the city was the Hong Kong International Airport, where he visited its command centre. He then attended two “engagement sessions” led by Chief Executive John Lee.
The first was with top government officials, and the second was with officials overseeing the city’s finances. The Hang Seng index last month dropped below the 15,000-point mark, marking a 15-month low and a return to levels not seen since the city’s 1997 handover.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday afternoon, Chan said Xia’s visit to personally meet with Hong Kong officials was “highly symbolic.” It is his second visit in under a year.
“As to Hong Kong implementing safe and high-quality development, director Xia is very confident and hopeful,” Chan said in Cantonese.
He added that officials discussed matters relating to livelihood, the economy, district administration and the impending legislation of Article 23 – the city’s homegrown national security law – with Xia.
“Director Xia highly affirms… the work of the SAR government and said a lot of encouraging remarks. He also asked us to continue to unite as one and work hard to do the best for Hong Kong people,” Chan said.
Asked by a reporter if Xia had any specific instructions on the passing of Article 23, Chan said the government was “maintaining contact” with the central authorities and would make announcements where suitable.
Article 23 of the Basic Law stipulates that the government shall enact laws on its own to prohibit acts of treason, secession, sedition and subversion against Beijing. Its legislation failed in 2003 following mass protests and it remained taboo until after the onset of the separate, Beijing-imposed security law in 2020. Pro-democracy advocates fear it could have a negative effect on civil liberties but the authorities say there is a constitutional duty to ratify it.
Meetings with gov’t advisors, lawmakers
Xia’s arrival to Hong Kong came as the city prepares to wrap up its public consultation period for Article 23 and hear the annual budget speech next week, during which spending plans for the year are announced.
Hong Kong is expected to see a widening deficit amid poor post-Covid economic growth.
Secretary for Finance Paul Chan told reporters on Thursday afternoon that government officials and Xia discussed how to boost the economy and improve livelihoods.
Asked whether the Central government would enact measures to help Hong Kong, Chan said other countries around the world had also reported deficits due to Covid-19, and that Hong Kong authorities would continue to prudently manage its finances.
Local media outlets reported that Xia will meet with members of the government advisory body the Executive Council, as well as lawmakers, on Friday morning. In the afternoon, he is expected to visit the International Organisation for Mediation Preparatory Office – a body for promoting mediation – and meet representatives of the business sector.
The senior Beijing official also made a six-day visit to the city last April, during which he officiated a National Security Education Day event – which several media outlets, including HKFP, were barred from attending without explanation.
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