Beijing envoy in Hong Kong urges preparedness against ‘significant political and legal incidents’ this year

But Carrie Lam already off to good start, senior rep at liaison office says

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Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (centre) attending a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Council in Tamar on Wednesday. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 7:04am, 1 Feb 2018Updated: 7:04am, 1 Feb 2018

A senior Beijing envoy has warned Hong Kong to be prepared against “certain significant political and legal incidents” this year, while describing the city’s top official as having got off to a good start since taking office last July.

Huang Lanfa, a deputy director of the central government liaison office in Hong Kong, asked that the incidents be addressed “in an active and proper manner”, according to a mainland media report.

Huang raised the issue at a seminar in Shenzhen organised by the semi-official mainland think tank, the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, People’s Daily reported.

Basic Law Committee vice-chairman Zhang Rongshun rejected criticism of the plan to have a joint checkpoint at the cross-border high-speed rail project in Hong Kong. Photo: Simon Song

In his address, Huang said “the radical resistance had been contained to a certain extent” under the administration of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. But he warned Hong Kong would still face “certain significant political and legal” incidents this year.

One such matter would be the cross-border, high-speed Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, specifically a joint checkpoint at the West Kowloon terminus in which mainland immigration and customs officials would operate locally. The bill to enable the arrangement had its first reading at the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

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