Hong Kong leader and administration are ‘masters’ of city: liaison office chief
Analysts say point made to avoid any misunderstanding that the liaison office has a direct say in city’s affairs
Hong Kong’s leader and his administration bear primary responsibility for the city’s governance, the new liaison office chief has said in a statement analysts saw as an assurance to avoid any misunderstanding that the Beijing representative had a direct say in local affairs.
Zhou Ji issued the pledge after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu visited him in Sai Wan on Monday, two days after the liaison office director had made a call on him at Government House.
Analysts said that the “rare” reciprocal visit by Lee signified closer ties between the office and the local government, and hence the reminder of their separate and distinct responsibilities was timely.
Zhou, who was appointed director of the central government’s liaison office on Friday, received Lee on Monday morning at its building in Sai Wan, an official statement said.
On Saturday, Zhou called on Lee, a day after the State Council announced that he had replaced Zheng Yanxiong as head of the liaison office and adviser to the city’s national security committee.
“The chief executive and the city’s government are the masters of Hong Kong and bear primary responsibility for its governance,” Zhou was quoted as saying in the liaison office statement issued after the Monday meeting.