Beijing seeks better understanding of Communist Party’s work and goals from Hong Kong establishment

Seminar held for some 240 officials by top party theoretician Leng Rong and Wang Zhimin, head of the central government’s liaison office

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Head of the Communist Party's literature research office and member of the party’s Central Committee, Leng Rong (right) arrives to brief Hong Kong senior officials on President Xi Jinping’s report to the Communist Party congress last month. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 10:00pm, 23 Nov 2017Updated: 11:50pm, 23 Nov 2017

Beijing mobilised a senior Chinese Communist Party theorist and its top official in Hong Kong to drive home an unusually direct message to the city’s establishment on Thursday about better understanding and improving cross-border ties after China’s recent leadership reshuffle.

In a move reflecting the central government’s more hands-on approach in steering the city, Leng Rong, head of the Communist Party’s literature research office, and Wang Zhimin, director of Beijing’s liaison office, gave a talk at government headquarters on President Xi Jinping’s report at the Communist Party’s five-yearly congress last month.

His 240-strong audience included Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, her top policy officials, advisers and senior civil servants.

Wang called for the careful handling of the differences between the city’s residents and their mainland compatriots, citing it as key to the success of the “one country, two systems” principle and capitalising on the central government’s development plans.

Leng gave a detailed explanation of Xi’s report and its importance to Hong Kong.

Each official at the seminar was given three booklets on the Chinese constitution and the Basic Law, Xi’s report at the party congress and a recent speech made by Wang.