A closer look at who joined Xi Jinping’s meeting with CY Leung reveals what awaits Hong Kong

Efficient internal communication and cooperation between local and mainland departments expected as unity in city sought

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Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on December 23. Photo: Information Services Department

Tammy Tam

Tammy Tam is the South China Morning Post's Publisher.

Published: 3:18pm, 1 Jan 2017Updated: 9:28am, 2 Jan 2017

While many have tried to interpret President Xi Jinping’s final appraisal of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying during his last duty visit to Beijing in late December, a closer look at those who attended the meeting can also be telling.

Key members of the Central Coordination Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs were present: its head and chairman of the National People’s Congress, Zhang Dejiang; vice-president Li Yuanchao; state councillor in charge of foreign affairs Yang Jiechi; and Sun Chunlan, head of the party’s United Front Work Department. Also in attendance, of course, were Wang Guangya, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) under the State Council, and Zhang Xiaoming, Beijing’s top envoy to Hong Kong.

The meeting included a non-member of the group: Li Zhanshu, a top aide to Xi who is the director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and the chief of the General Office of the National Security Commission. Li is routinely seen with Xi at important meetings.

While the composition of the gathering was not unexpected for the chief executive’s annual duty report to the president, it nevertheless showed that, in the eyes of Beijing, “Hong Kong affairs” is not just about the city alone but touches on many aspects.

Hongkongers are more familiar with the HKMAO and liaison office – the two offices directly implementing Beijing’s policies and decisions in the city. However, the presence in particular of Li Zhanshu, dubbed the very trusted “Daneizongguan”, or Xi’s “chief of staff”, is significant.

Li is the first person to head the Central Committee’s General Office as a member of the powerful Politburo.

A closer look at who joined Xi Jinping’s meeting with CY Leung reveals what awaits Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Efficient internal communication and cooperation between local and mainland departments expected as unity in city sought

Efficient internal communication and cooperation between local and mainland departments expected as unity in city sought