China’s top man in Hong Kong talks stability and prosperity with former city leaders Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying
- New director of central government’s liaison office Luo Huining pays courtesy visit to city grandees
Beijing’s new envoy to Hong Kong met two former city leaders on Thursday and Friday to discuss the deep-rooted problems that have led to the current social and political crisis.
Luo Huining, who replaced Wang Zhimin as director of the central government’s liaison office, had in-depth exchanges with Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, now vice-chairmen of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the nation’s top advisory body.
During a courtesy call on Thursday, Luo said Tung had made a historic contribution to the implementation of the “one country, two systems” formula in Hong Kong when he served as chief executive, according to a statement published on the liaison office’s website on Friday.
Tung resigned as chief executive in 2005, citing health reasons, amid a public backlash over his push to introduce national security legislation. He then took up an elder statesman’s role.
“Luo said Tung had spared no effort to facilitate the development of the country and Hong Kong since he took up the vice-chairmanship of the CPPCC,” the statement read. “Luo said he hoped Tung would continue to play a proactive role in maintaining the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.”
On Friday, Luo also met former chief executive Leung.