Missing phrases in CPPCC work report again cause controversy among Hongkongers

Two key phrases of Beijing's post-handover mantra towards Hong Kong were omitted in the annual report of the nation's top advisory body, a year after they were left out in Premier Li Keqiang's maiden work report.

The report, delivered by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at the opening of its annual session yesterday, also stressed that Hong Kong "needs to do more on youth affairs".

Since the end of the 79-day Occupy protest, a retinue of mainland officials and scholars has called for youth work to be strengthened in Hong Kong.

Yu mainly focused on the promise that Beijing would "fully and faithfully implement the principle of 'one country, two systems' and the Basic Law".

In his maiden work report a year ago, the nation's fourth-ranking official mentioned two key phrases under the "one country, two systems" principle: "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and the city's "high degree of autonomy". However, this year they were missing.

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Chan Wing-kee, a member of the CPPCC's standing committee, said: "It doesn't have to be repeated all the time. 'Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong' and a 'high degree of autonomy' are the central government's promise; there is no change in its policy towards Hong Kong."