Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam due in Beijing next week for policy talks to bolster city’s economic recovery
- Chief executive set to spend three days in the capital to extract support from state officials to help revitalise Hong Kong’s flagging economy
- Lam also due in Shenzhen and Guangzhou for mainland China trip starting next Tuesday and likely to last five days
Hong Kong’s leader and five of her senior ministers will travel to Beijing next week to try and secure central government support for policies designed to accelerate the city’s economic recovery.
Laying out details for a mainland China trip to last up to five days, Lam on Tuesday said the Beijing talks would focus entirely on the economic situation, which she described as “very serious in Hong Kong”.
“We need more support measures from the mainland of China, especially in light of the overall direction that Hong Kong should move to better integrate with the mainland, especially in the Greater Bay Area,” Lam told a weekly press briefing.
A week ago, the Post reported that her Beijing trip, originally slated for this month, would be postponed until after Thursday’s conclusion of the 19th Communist Party Congress’ fifth plenum, a high-level meeting to chart China’s economic and political direction for the next five years.
Lam also confirmed that the city’s technology, financial services and mainland affairs ministers would be going with her to meet senior central government officials.
Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan, who oversees the city’s aviation policies, and Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee will also be part of the official delegation.