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Editorial | Beijing’s message to Lam is this: build on the progress made

  • Despite chief executive’s performance over the past year being fully acknowledged, she has been urged to redouble efforts in improving people’s livelihoods and to give them ‘a greater sense of gain’

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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on December 22, 2021. Photo: Pool
The annual duty visit of the chief executive is always a closely followed event in the political calendar, even more so when the city is embarking on a new chapter following an eventful year.
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As widely expected, the work of Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was fully acknowledged by state leaders, but she was also urged to redouble efforts in improving people’s livelihoods and to give them “a greater sense of gain”.

The message resonates with Hongkongers. Even though the government has made much groundwork for better development, many people have yet to benefit directly.

But with Beijing’s resolute support for closer integration and firm commitment to “one country, two systems”, there is hope for greater achievement.

Compared with the previous duty visit, which was carried out online because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lam was more upbeat this time.

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This probably stems from the significant progress she has made on two pressing issues at the time – curbing the fourth wave of community outbreak and fostering a political order under the newly imposed national security law.
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