Beijing’s call for ‘new mindset’ in Hong Kong shows city leaders must step up, analysts say
- Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, urged city to adopt ‘new mindset’ and rely on more than its traditional advantages
- Analysts say call signals central government expects local officials take more proactive approach to boosting economy and tackling deep-rooted issues
A call by a senior Beijing official for Hong Kong to adopt “a new mindset” and rely on more than its traditional advantages signals the central government’s expectation that city officials take a more proactive approach to boosting the economy and tackling deep-rooted issues, analysts have said.
Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, made the remarks in a speech delivered via video link at the opening of the National Security Education Day on Monday.
While Xia expressed confidence in the city’s economic outlook, he said Hong Kong should seek and embrace change.
“We cannot look at today’s new situation with yesterday’s old eyes. We cannot use yesterday’s old thinking to solve today’s new problems,” he said.
“We need to unite and look ahead to solve the problems we face using new thinking, new methods and new routes. [We should] dare to say new things that have not been said by our predecessors and dare to do things that have never been done before to make constant breakthroughs.”
Hong Kong’s traditional advantages should not remain “static” and maintaining the city’s “golden brand” required constant effort, he added.