A closer look at who joined Xi Jinping’s meeting with CY Leung reveals what awaits Hong Kong
Efficient internal communication and cooperation between local and mainland departments expected as unity in city sought
The meeting included a non-member of the group: Li Zhanshu, a top aide to Xi who is the director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the chief of the General Office of the National Security Commission. Li is routinely seen with Xi at important meetings.
While the composition of the gathering was not unexpected for the chief executive’s annual duty report to the president, it nevertheless showed that, in the eyes of Beijing, “Hong Kong affairs” is not just about the city alone but touches on many aspects.
Hongkongers are more familiar with the HKMAO and liaison office – the two offices directly implementing Beijing’s policies and decisions in the city. However, the presence in particular of Li Zhanshu, dubbed the very trusted “Daneizongguan”, or Xi’s “chief of staff”, is significant.
Li is the first person to head the Central Committee’s General Office as a member of the powerful Politburo.
With Li’s presence, it is understood that Xi’s personal supervision on major issues will be fully followed.
Meanwhile, Li’s role in the party’s National Security Commission ensures better cooperation among different departments as the commission covers the military, public security, foreign affairs and intelligence gathering among other duties.
Dealing with this kind of complexity without undermining the “one country, two systems” policy requires efficient internal communication and cooperation between Hong Kong and departments across the border.
Beijing is very much concerned about the influence of possible “external” forces through various means
Another participant worth noting in that gathering in the capital is the only woman, Sun Chunlan, who joined for the first time. Sun is the head of the party’s United Front Work Department and was actually appointed in 2015 as Zhang Dejiang’s second deputy, after Li Yuanchao, in the Central Coordination Group on Hong Kong. It means this important party department is now officially supervising Hong Kong matters as well. Beijing has emphasised a “united front” to rally public support by relationship building with different sectors, including those overseas such as in Hong Kong and Macau.
One little episode during Leung’s meeting with Xi could well illustrate Beijing’s latest approach: after reiterating the need to firmly crack down on any independence attempt “according to the law”, Xi asked Leung to convey his best New Year wishes to Hongkongers.
