Wang Yi heaps praise on CY Leung as a patriot on his final duty visit to Beijing
Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls chief executive a patriot as first day of three-day trip sheds little light on Beijing’s thinking on city’s next leader
Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying kicked off his final duty visit to Beijing with a call on two ministers who affirmed the city’s standing as an international hub. But day one of the three-day trip gave little away on Beijing’s thinking about the forthcoming chief executive race.
All eyes will now be not only on Leung’s official meetings on Friday with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, but also a high-profile press conference that Hong Kong’s No 2 official, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, will chair in the historic Forbidden City.
Lam will unveil plans to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover on July 1 next year – the day after Leung steps down as chief executive.
As Leung’s trusted aide, Lam vowed to consider joining the race as soon as he made a surprise announcement earlier this month not to seek re-election.
Amid speculation that Leung had lost Beijing’s favour, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as the first central government official to meet him since his announcement, praised the chief executive on Thursday as a patriot.
“The chief executive is young and talented,” he said of the 62-year-old Leung in the opening minutes of the meeting that were open to the media. “You love the country as well as Hong Kong.”
“In the face of complicated internal and external situations, you have truly upheld the ‘one country, two systems’ policy, and painstakingly dedicated yourself to much beneficial work for the country and Hong Kong,” Wang said.
Xinhua reported later that Wang and Leung discussed Hong Kong’s strengths in contributing to the “One Belt, One Road” trade initiative and that the central government would support the city’s involvement in the scheme.
Leung also visited the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office on Thursday and held talks with director Wang Guangya. No details of their meeting were released. Only a photo was issued.
Leung, together with Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, also met Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang.
Veteran China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu said Leung’s meeting with the foreign minister highlighted Hong Kong’s international status.
Central government officials never publicly criticise any chief executive, as it would backfire on Beijing’s authority too
Ching Cheong, another China watcher, said there could be a political message in Wang being the first to meet Leung, as Beijing might entrust him later with a role related to the belt and road initiative.
But Professor Lau Siu-kai, a leading Beijing adviser on Hong Kong affairs, warned against over-interpreting the meetings.
“Central government officials never publicly criticise any chief executive, as it would backfire on Beijing’s authority too,” he said.
“The duty visits’ objectives are to promote cooperation and show gratitude,” Lau said. “The foreign ministry’s office in Hong Kong has a close relationship with the SAR government.”
Apart from Yang, Leung took with him the secretaries for housing and transport, development and commerce and economic development. Johnny Lau said they could paint a picture of the “achievements” made by Leung’s administration.
“These are also the ministers whose work is closely related to that of the central government.”
