Shenzhen Communist Party boss laments ‘different mindsets’ preventing cooperation with Hong Kong
Ma Xingrui says two cities should set aside differences over politics and power for common development goals ‘under one country’
In the latest push for Hong Kong to merge with its neighbour to the north, Shenzhen’s party chief has lamented the “difference in mindset” between the two cities he says has been obstructing collaboration.
“In stepping up cooperation, I feel that it’s difficult to do so ... I’d really like to understand Hong Kong and Macau people’s mindsets and how they think about cooperation,” said Ma Xingrui at a meeting with Hong Kong and Macau members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. “We should really liberate our thinking and merge our cities as our development goal.”
But a Chinese University political scientist said any merger of the cities would show total disregard for “one country, two systems”, and would not work politically, economically or socially.
“Most Hongkongers will not accept such a move ... To a certain extent, a merger would mean Hong Kong slumming down,” said Ivan Choy Chi-keung. “Socially, mainland tourists have already caused such issues in the city; a merger with Shenzhen would be even worse. And politically, it would be an even bigger problem. It is total disregard for one country, two systems.”
Ma, who was appointed Shenzhen party boss in March last year and also deputy provincial party secretary, said different mindsets over politics and power should be put aside as the two cities are “under one country”.
“Under the basis of unified development goals, we should unify our thinking and stop fighting about these trivial things – it’s worthless,” Ma said.
