Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2186855/beijings-top-man-hong-kong-hails-new-era-patriotism-and
Hong Kong/ Politics

Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong hails new era of patriotism and rationality, urging lawmakers to work with him on sovereignty, security and development

  • Director of liaison office Wang Zhimin calls on legislature to follow central government’s lead on issues
  • All members of pro-establishment camp attend lunch at liaison office in Sai Wan as pro-democracy lawmakers stay away

Beijing’s top official in Hong Kong has hailed a new era of patriotism and rationality in the city, while urging lawmakers to continue working with the central government.

Hosting a gathering for the pro-establishment camp at his office in Sai Wan, Wang Zhimin, the director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, also called on the legislature to follow Beijing’s lead on issues surrounding China’s sovereignty, security and development.

He cited the pro-establishment camp’s dominant position in the Legislative Council as a reason for rationality being the prevailing emotion these days.

The director spoke to all 43 pro-establishment lawmakers during the tea and lunch gathering to celebrate the Lunar New Year. It was the first time all lawmakers had been invited to a gathering at the liaison office, but 26 opposition legislators boycotted the event.

Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, arrives for the lunch at the liaison offices in Sai Wan. Photo: SCMP
Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, arrives for the lunch at the liaison offices in Sai Wan. Photo: SCMP

Despite the protest action, Wang conveyed his greetings to the pro-democracy camp, whose members had said they were more interested in having a serious policy discussion than “entertainment and feasts”.

According to Wang’s speech, which was released afterwards by his office, the director called for support from the legislature to protect national interests.

“To protect state sovereignty, national security and the country’s development interest … there should only be a responsibility as one country, and no differences in the two systems,” he said of the “one country, two systems” policy under which Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy.

“As a world-famous society with rule of law, Hong Kong should not be a lawless place in terms of national security, or leave its constitutional responsibility incomplete.”

Wang praised the government’s political allies for supporting the imposition of an unprecedented ban on the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party last year.

But he did not specifically mention the city’s duty to enact national security legislation as stipulated in the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, or a controversial new proposal to amend extradition laws to allow fugitive transfers with mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.

“We believe our friends in Legco can definitely continue to do their duty and play a positive role in a series of important matters, including the legislation of the national anthem law,” Wang said.

The proposed law criminalises any public and deliberate insult of China’s national anthem, with penalties of up to HK$50,000 or three years in jail.

Wang also spoke highly of the legislature for passing 27 motions, and its financial committee for granting HK$251.4 billion to 98 projects, during the 2017-2018 session.

“Love for the country and Hong Kong, democratic supervision, rationality and pragmatism, cooperation and making concerted efforts, are becoming the core values of Legco,” he said.

“Legco and the Hong Kong government are both political institutions in Central, and they will definitely continue to respect, understand and support each other. Sai Wan [as the liaison office is informally known] and Central will sit together, talk together and work together more often.”

Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said after the gathering that Wang had expressed hope lawmakers across the political spectrum could set aside partisanship and respond to his invitations with goodwill.

“This is not a place you won’t be able to leave once you get in,” Leung said, joking about negative perceptions regarding his office.