Chief of China’s top political advisory body highlights opposition to Hong Kong independence at the start of nation’s two-week annual parliamentary sessions

Comment by Wang Yang, chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, came as he delivered his first work report

In listing major achievements of the past year, Wang touches on Hong Kong under part about ‘committing ourselves to great unity and solidarity’

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This month’s annual CPPCC session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing is the second in the body’s 13th five-year term. Photo: EPA

Published: 6:12pm, 3 Mar 2019Updated: 9:39am, 4 Mar 2019

The head of China’s top political advisory body has listed its job of “unequivocally opposing Hong Kong independence” in its annual work report and pledged to fully implement the “one country, two systems” principle under which Beijing governs the city.

Reiterating Beijing’s opposition to Hong Kong independence, the comment by Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, came on Sunday as he delivered his first work report at the start of the nation’s two-week annual parliamentary sessions.

Wang, the No 4 member of the Communist Party’s ruling Politburo Standing Committee, was speaking at the opening of the CPPCC’s annual meeting in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, in front of 2,000 delegates from across the country.

Wang Yang (front, centre) became chairman of the top advisory body last year. Photo: Xinhua

In listing the major achievements of the past year, Wang touched on Hong Kong under a part about “committing ourselves to great unity and solidarity”.

“We encouraged local delegates from Hong Kong and Macau to support their governments and chief executives in exercising law-based governance. We unequivocally opposed Hong Kong independence,” Wang said.