Explainer5 things you need to know about China’s 20th Communist Party congress, and why it matters to Hong Kong
- The Post unpacks the significance of the coming leadership meet and what we can expect from Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s report
- Xi is expected at the congress to secure a third term as the party’s leader
As the twice-a-decade Communist Party congress starts this Sunday, President Xi Jinping will deliver a much-awaited political report on the country’s overall policy direction in the next five years. The Chinese leader is expected to also bring up Hong Kong and Macau, with the mentions small but significant.
This year, in the 20th instalment of the party congress, analysts have said they do not believe Xi will add new guidelines for Hong Kong on top of those he had already set out in a keynote speech while on a visit three months ago.
The focus is expected to be on the accurate implementation of the “one country, two systems” guiding principle, and the importance of ensuring the city’s political power remained in the hands of “patriots”, they believed.
Still, any words from Xi would have ramifications for the establishment and the city, and any change in personnel would mean forging new working relationships.
Here are five key things you need to know about the 20th Communist Party congress and why it matters to Hong Kong.
1. Why is the congress important?
Held about every five years, the congress is where major leadership changes are normally announced. It also has the task of endorsing plans that will determine the trajectory of the world’s second-largest economy over the next five years.
