Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong to brief officials, lawmakers on ‘spirit’ of China’s ‘two sessions’
- Zheng Yanxiong, director of central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, is expected to offer key takeaways from last month’s ‘two sessions’ in Beijing
- Chief Executive John Lee will preside over the seminar at government headquarters on Tuesday
Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong will brief city officials and lawmakers on the “spirit” of the country’s annual parliamentary meetings in a closed-door seminar on Tuesday, the Post has learned.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will preside over the seminar, to be held at the government headquarters in Tamar, with senior officials and lawmakers taking part, according to a government insider.
The source said the seminar was being held nearly a month after the end of the two sessions, or lianghui, because the government and Legislative Council were previously busy with the city’s domestic national security law.
“We finally made the time after the previous busy schedule,” the insider said.
Several Hong Kong NPC and CPPCC delegates had asked to leave the meetings in Beijing to attend the bill scrutiny sessions in Legco.
Hong Kong should use its ‘super roles’ to spur development: Beijing official
At a meeting with Hong Kong NPC deputies in Beijing during the two sessions this year, Zheng called on the city to draw on its “super roles” as an international financial centre to amass capital, as well as connect with and support investors to help the country become a powerhouse in the sector.
His call echoed remarks by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who used his work report to encourage Hong Kong to “play to its distinctive strengths” and take on the role of better integrating with national development.
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It will be the second time Zheng has offered lianghui takeaways to Hong Kong officials and lawmakers since assuming the post in January 2023.
He told 180 participants in the first briefing on March 28 last year that one of the key points of the two sessions was to grasp the spirit of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech at the meetings.
Last year, Xi stressed Beijing’s commitment to upholding the “one country, two systems” governing principle and that the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong was part and parcel of the building of a strong China.
‘Hong Kong CPPCC members must be totally committed to supporting security law’
The liaison chief asked Hong Kong to strengthen its position as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, develop its new strength as an international innovation and technology centre, and maintain a free and open business environment.
He also said Hong Kong should maintain its edge in the rule of law and its common law system, and set itself on a path of internationalisation.
Besides the two sessions briefing, Zheng also gave talks at the government headquarters on the topics of district governance and national security in the past year.
