What Premier Li Keqiang DIDN'T say about Hong Kong: key 'autonomy' phrases missing from report

Premier Li Keqiang's maiden work report raised questions about Hong Kong's promised "high degree of autonomy".

This phrase and another key phrase in Beijing's post-handover mantra, "the people of Hong Kong governing Hong Kong", were left out for the first time since the last work report of then premier Zhu Rongji in 2003.

In his final work report last year, Li's predecessor, Wen Jiabao, included both phrases.

The omission was played down by several Beijing officials. Speaking later in Beijing, Qiao Xiaoyang , chairman of the National People's Congress Law Committee, and Chen Zuoer, chairman of the National Association of Study on Hong Kong and Macau and a former deputy head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, emphasised that Li's report did not indicate any change in policy on Hong Kong or Macau.

In his address to the opening of the annual NPC session, Li's mention of Hong Kong and Macau focused on the promise to "unswervingly" implement the principles of "one country, two systems" and "fully and faithfully carry out the Basic Laws" of the two special administrative regions, while maintaining their prosperity and stability.

Zhu also referred only to "one country, two systems" in 2003.

Zhang Xiaoming, head of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, said on Thursday morning that there was no need to repeat phrases such as “Hongkongers governing Hong Kong” or to note that the city enjoys “a high degree of autonomy” every time officials mention the principle of “one country, two systems”.