Central government’s top official in Hong Kong tells city not to be dispirited over economy and that boosts from Beijing are in pipeline

Zheng Yanxiong, director of central government’s liaison office, says Hong Kong should stick to its ‘superconnector’ role to ensure economic growth

He adds at closed doors meeting with Hong Kong officials that Beijing had preferential policies in the works to aid financial hub

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Residents head across the border in droves at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge checkpoint at the start of the Easter holiday. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 10:58pm, 9 Apr 2024Updated: 1:18am, 10 Apr 2024

Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong has appealed to the city not to lose heart about its economic prospects despite many from the financial hub heading north to spend their money.

Zheng Yanxiong, the director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, said Guangdong province experienced a similar situation several years ago when many mainland Chinese travelled to Hong Kong to splash their cash.

Zheng on Tuesday told Hong Kong to stick to its “superconnector” role for future economic growth and revealed that Beijing would introduce more preferential policies for the financial hub at a closed-doors meeting with officials and lawmakers themed on the “spirit” of the country’s annual parliamentary meetings – the “two sessions”.

One of three legislators who attended the talk and who spoke to the Post said Zheng offered the city some encouragement.

Zheng Yanxiong, the director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong (centre) and Eric Chan Kwok-ki, chief secretary for administration (right) head into a closed doors two sessions briefing at the city government’s headquarters on Tuesday. Photo: Edmond So

“Zheng noted it was not a big deal that Hongkongers headed north for consumption, citing that Guangdong officials had not complained about their residents coming to shop in Hong Kong years ago,” the lawmaker, who asked not to be named, said.