Hong Kong is expected to be a hot issue at the annual meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC), beginning on Monday, and of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which starts today.
Hong Kong NPC deputies and CPPCC delegates are likely to focus their talks on repairing ties between the city and the mainland and preventing pregnant mainlanders flooding Hong Kong's hospitals.
Political pundits in the city are also watching closely to see whether Beijing will give any hints about its preference in the upcoming chief executive election.
Many believe that Hong Kong deputies and delegates will be eager for any tacit messages from Beijing, especially given the recent troubles of former chief secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, long tipped as Beijing's choice for the top job.
State broadcaster Chinese Central Television (CCTV) targeted Hong Kong yesterday during a press conference by CPPCC spokesman Zhao Qizheng.
It asked Zhao if he would discuss with Hong Kong delegates the discontent Hong Kong is feeling over the influx of pregnant women and shoppers from the mainland, and the recent war of words between Hongkongers and mainland people.