An NPC leader suggests Hongkongers focus on the economy
A National People's Congress leader yesterday issued a stern warning to the people of Hong Kong to stop 'messing around' with politics and focus on economic development.
If they did not, the city risked being marginalised, said Cheng Siwei , a vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.
The city's people lacked a sense of crisis, he said, and must make efforts to reinforce its position as an international financial hub.
'You are very successful now, but you should think of a possible crisis when you are living in comfort,' Mr Cheng said on the sidelines of the NPC's annual session.
The NPC Standing Committee has the power to approve changes to Hong Kong's electoral development, and Mr Cheng's tough words came days after Chen Zuoer , of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, ticked off some pan-democrats for assuming they were heroes of democracy when Beijing had already endorsed universal suffrage for the city more than 20 years ago.
Central government leaders have been relatively quiet about Hongkongers' political enthusiasm in recent years, though they have warned city people to keep cool heads when they have taken to the streets urging universal suffrage.