Top Beijing official to gauge tycoons’ views on economy, meet legal professional bodies over Article 23 bill during Hong Kong visit, sources say
- Xia Baolong, who heads revamped Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, will begin his six-day trip on Thursday, according to insiders
- His fact-finding visit comes at crucial time given concerns over economy and proposed national security law, tycoon and political observers say
Top Beijing official Xia Baolong will meet tycoons and other business leaders to gauge their views on the city’s economic prospects and discuss the proposed domestic national security law with legal professional bodies during his visit to Hong Kong later this week, the Post has learned.
Xia, who heads the revamped Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), will begin his six-day trip on Thursday, according to multiple insiders. They said on Tuesday he was also due to spend time meeting residents at a teahouse, visiting districts and talking with young people.
Heavyweights who were expected to take part in the discussions and political observers said the visit came at a crucial time as it would ease people’s concerns over the sluggish economy and the proposed security law.
“It is good that Xia is gathering views from different sectors at such a time, when people are having a certain sense of confidence issues due to the sluggish economy and high interest-rate environment,” one tycoon told the Post.
“By coming to the city, I believe the Beijing official can see for himself the real picture and have time to discuss with the chief executive and his officials on how to take things forward and ensure the city is back on track.”
Apart from meeting city leader John Lee Ka-chiu and his ministers, high on Xia’s agenda would be a closed-door exchange with a “select list” of tycoons and business representatives on Friday afternoon.
“The invitees were told to share views specifically about Hong Kong’s business environment and economic prospects this year amid challenges, including geopolitical headwinds,” an insider familiar with the matter said.