EditorialBeijing shows it wants to move on with Xia development focus

Charting a new stage of development with all sectors is said to be the reason Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong has visited again in less than a year. It appears that the mission is being fulfilled, as Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs is about to wrap up his visit. The city should follow the agreed direction and strive to overcome prevailing difficulties for stronger development.

Hong Kong was still grappling with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and the 2019 political crisis when Xia visited last April following a revamp of the office. Progress has been made since, with life largely back to normal and the economy slowly recovering. In the pipeline as well is a home-grown national security law under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the mini-constitution, to tackle theft of state secrets, espionage and other state security-related crimes.

Xia’s visit is both symbolic and pragmatic. It comes as the city is seeking to put behind its troubled past and move from restoring order to prosperity. What sets the trip further apart is its duration, scope and depth. The seven-day fact-finding tour includes meetings with tycoons, politicians, professional bodies, economists and financial leaders, as well as local and foreign chambers of commerce. The top official has also checked out the latest infrastructure projects and met low-income families. These positive arrangements help to keep Beijing abreast of local developments and feel the public pulse.

With Hong Kong’s budget speech tomorrow and the annual “two sessions” – meetings of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference – beginning next week in Beijing, it also is a good opportunity for both sides to consider more collaborative measures of mutual benefit. Given the economy will continue to be the main focus as the city and the mainland struggle to revive growth following the prolonged pandemic, it is to be hoped that Xia’s first-hand experiences here can help raise momentum for further cooperation.

His visit has renewed confidence that Beijing will continue its support for the next stage of development. It is encouraging to hear that it continues to attach high importance to the rule of law and Hong Kong’s role as an international finance centre. This also underlines the need for the city to remain different from its mainland counterparts and to maintain international links as well as freedoms guaranteed under the Basic Law. This is the cornerstone of our success and is in the best interests of both city and country.

Hong Kong’s future lies in making the most of its uniqueness and strengths under “one country, two systems”. The onus is on the government to unite the community, seize the momentum and take the city forward in a new direction.