Missing phrases in CPPCC work report again cause controversy among Hongkongers
Two key phrases of Beijing's post-handover mantra towards Hong Kong were omitted in the annual report of the nation's top advisory body, a year after they were left out in Premier Li Keqiang's maiden work report.
The report, delivered by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at the opening of its annual session yesterday, also stressed that Hong Kong "needs to do more on youth affairs".
Since the end of the 79-day Occupy protest, a retinue of mainland officials and scholars has called for youth work to be strengthened in Hong Kong.
Yu mainly focused on the promise that Beijing would "fully and faithfully implement the principle of 'one country, two systems' and the Basic Law".
In his maiden work report a year ago, the nation's fourth-ranking official mentioned two key phrases under the "one country, two systems" principle: "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and the city's "high degree of autonomy". However, this year they were missing.
Chan Wing-kee, a member of the CPPCC's standing committee, said: "It doesn't have to be repeated all the time. 'Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong' and a 'high degree of autonomy' are the central government's promise; there is no change in its policy towards Hong Kong."
However, veteran China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu said the omission of the two key phrases was a clear indication that Beijing was shifting its Hong Kong policy to place greater emphasis on its absolute authority over Hong Kong.
"In the context of Chinese politics, leaders won't miss even a single word in a government paper if they want others to remember it or if they are serious about it.
Last year, similar questions were raised after Premier Li omitted the two key phrases in his maiden work report.
Hong Kong delegates were generally more concerned about the mention of Hong Kong young people in the CPPCC report.
Meanwhile, CPPCC delegate Professor Lau Siu-kai filed a proposal calling for Beijing and the Hong Kong government to encourage active discussion on the nation's 13th five-year plan, so Hong Kong people could have a better understanding of China.