After Xi Jinping’s Macau trip, analysts predict patriotic education and national security in Hong Kong’s future

State leaders are adamant that Macau has set the benchmark for successful implementation of “one country, two systems” and expect Hong Kong to do more to promote patriotic education and safeguard national security, analysts say.

Political commentator Johnny Lau Yui-siu said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speeches during his three-day visit to Macau, which ended on Friday, indicated that the central government was not satisfied with Hong Kong’s failure to match Macau in areas such as the operation of an executive-led political system, and respect for the central government’s authority.

Delivering his speech at a banquet in Macau on Thursday, Xi praised the city’s people for understanding that the executive authorities and the legislature should support each other, while also acting as a check and balance, but of the two mutual support was most important.

Speaking at the city government’s inauguration ceremony after overseeing the swearing-in of Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng on Friday, Xi said the executive authorities, the legislature and the judiciary “correctly handled their relationship” to ensure the respect for the chief executives' authority, and the smooth operation of the executive-led political system.

Lau said Xi had a long-held belief that the three branches of the government in Hong Kong should work together.