Hong Kong chief executive’s first official visits to mainland China signalled as he praises patriotic education in visit to PolyU
- Chief executive speaks at opening of new PolyU entrance and emphasises cultivation of generation that loves ‘country and Hong Kong’
- Chairman of PolyU’s governing council recalls protest chaos, but says institution has overcome difficulties
Hong Kong’s leader will make his first official visit to neighbouring Guangzhou and Shenzhen next week and cross-border travel is expected to be on the agenda, a source has revealed.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s two-day itinerary will also include officiating at the opening ceremony of the new campus of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Nansha, Guangzhou next Wednesday, before leaving for Shenzhen in the afternoon.
A source said Lee was likely to meet mainland Chinese counterparts to discuss cross-border arrangements and anti-epidemic efforts, but arrangements had not been finalised.
The insider added that Lee is likely to be accompanied by Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai and education minister Christine Choi Yuk-lin.
Lee called Guangdong’s party chief Li Xi, Guangdong governor Wang Weizhong, Shenzhen party chief Meng Fanli, and Shenzhen mayor Qin Weizhong the day after he was sworn in as the new chief executive on July 1.
A source said at the time that the phone conversations were just courtesy calls, but analysts suggested Lee was keen to reopen the border because the contact came just after he pledged to lobby his mainland counterparts for “limited measures” to help reconnect Hong Kong with the rest of the country.