Editorial | Mainland study trips help forge strong ties

From civil servants to students, there has been a growing need for different sectors of society to know more about the current situation on the mainland. The evidence is to be found in the rising number of regular study trips across the border in recent years. Political appointees are no exception. As top aides to those in charge of government policies, they need to fully understand the latest national developments and help Hong Kong make the best use of its strengths under “one country, two systems”, the city’s governing formula.

A delegation comprising dozens of deputy ministers and political assistants, the largest of its kind, is currently on a week-long trip. Members will learn about the country’s constitution, security and modernisation at Beijing’s National Academy of Governance. They will also meet officials from the Hong Kong and Macau Work Office, Beijing’s top body overseeing the two special administrative regions directly under the party’s central leadership arm. The trip will help cultivate national and global perspectives among appointees, in addition to fostering a greater sense of unity, according to delegation leader and Chief Executive’s Office director Carol Yip Man-kuen.

Senior civil servants have long been making use of such sources since the handover to enhance their understanding of national affairs. With the incumbent administration in office for more than a year now, it is time for the those at a lower ministerial level to go north and familiarise themselves with developments there.

As Yip rightly said, the trip was just the first step. Officials are expected to come up with policies that complement mutual development and achieve win-win outcomes for both sides. This is especially important when the city has become more integrated with social, economic and political developments on the mainland. The government should give due consideration to the wider context when formulating policies.

The trip is also a good opportunity to enhance mutual understanding and trust. Delegates can update mainland officials on the latest developments in Hong Kong, which hopefully, may help shape state policies and measures that are more attuned to the needs of the city.