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Leung Chun-ying (CY Leung)
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Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying during his meeting with President Xi Jinping in Zhongnanhai, Beijing on Friday. Photo: Simon Song

Update | China leaders stress Hong Kong should stick to strict reform framework

Xi and Li indicate sterner approach to city's political affairs during C.Y. Leung visit while pledging support for economic development

State leaders have stressed that Hong Kong should stick to the stringent framework for political reform set by Beijing and, for the first time since the Occupy Central protests ended, pledged more support for the city's economic development.

The comments, made by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang during a visit to the capital by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, have been taken as a further sign that Beijing will take a sterner approach to the city's political affairs in the wake of Occupy. They follow a series of remarks by Beijing advisers and officials indicating a tougher stance.

Leung dismissed suggestions Beijing was offering sweeteners in exchange for public support for its vision for the 2017 chief executive election. The central government wants the city's leader elected from a list of two or three chosen by a 1,200-strong committee, an idea rejected by pan-democrats, who want the public to nominate candidates.

Both Xi and Li "fully endorsed" the work of Leung's administration. They urged Hongkongers to "cherish" the city's economic achievements and the rule of law.

Receiving Leung on the second day of his annual duty visit, Xi told the chief executive that the central government would lend him "unwavering support" as he pushed political reform forward. Without mentioning Occupy directly, Xi noted that Leung had maintained stability in the city.

"I need to emphasise that… the development [of political reform] should fit in the local design, be orderly and in accordance with the law … and be conducive to the Hong Kong's prosperity and stability," Xi said before an hour of talks behind closed doors at Zhongnanhai, the office complex for top leaders.

Xi stressed that reform had to be in line with national sovereignty, security and development interests, a stance Beijing made clear before the Occupy civil disobedience protests, which ended this month after 79 days.

At an earlier meeting with Leung, Li promised more "supporting measures" for the city's economy after the launch last month of a long-awaited link between the Hong Kong stock exchange and the Shanghai bourse.

"The central government has not changed, and will not change the basic policies towards Hong Kong," Li said. "All the central government's supporting measures for Hong Kong will also remain, and it will continue to step up the measures."

Leung later said the new measures would include recommendations from the city's Financial Services Development Council, an advisory group set up last year. Its suggestions had been considered by the National Development and Reform Commission, and some would be implemented in the coming months.

The council has studied how Hong Kong accountants and lawyers could help mainland firms invest overseas and looked at ways to attract investment funds to domicile in the city.

New measures would also include developing industries such as design, aviation and navigation services, Leung added.

Leung said leaders were "concerned" about Occupy and that Beijing would discuss the matter further with Hong Kong officials on receipt of a report into public opinion during the protest.

Asked if he had reported any "shortcomings" - as he was instructed to do by a senior official last year - Leung said he had informed Beijing of the difficulties in meeting demand for housing.

Professor Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, a semi-official think tank, said the leaders' remarks showed a sterner stance but also an effort to restore Leung's authority after heavy criticism.

"Beijing would exercise all its power to ensure the Basic Law and 'one country, two systems' will be correctly implemented and would not tolerate any move to challenge Beijing's authority," Lau said. "They might not have had such determination before."

Wong Kwok-kin, a Beijing-loyalist lawmaker, said Beijing was adopting a mixed approach, taking a softer line on economics and a tougher one on politics.

Meanwhile, Xi and Li also "fully endorsed" the work of Macau Chief Executive Dr Fernando Chui Sai-on, making his first duty visit since re-election in August.

 

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Leaders push strict framework on reform
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