Beijing’s top official gives ‘4 affirmations’ to Hong Kong gov’t after 2-day visit

Hong Kong leader John Lee has said that China’s top official Xia Baolong concluded his two-day visit by giving “affirmations” and “recognitions” to the local government.

Lee spoke to local media on Wednesday afternoon after seeing Xia, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, at the Shenzhen Bay border checkpoint.

Xia was spotted giving Lee a thumbs-up after the two officials shook hands, Ming Pao reported.

Lee said that Xia gave “four affirmations” to the Hong Kong government, particularly regarding its work on the city’s first five-year plan, national security, technological innovation, and economic development.

Xia also praised the utilisation of the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital to serve people in need, the Northern Metropolis, and the Light Public Housing scheme for low-income families.

Stayed in Shenzhen

Xia began paying annual visits to Hong Kong in 2023, when Beijing established a new Hong Kong and Macau work office directly under the Chinese Communist Party. Formerly, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office was under the State Council of the Chinese government.

Xia arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday for a two-day trip.

However, unlike previous arrangements, he did not stay overnight in Hong Kong. Instead, he spent the night in Shenzhen and returned to Hong Kong on Wednesday morning.

Citing anonymous government sources, local media said the new arrangement aimed “to promote the seamless connectivity of the infrastructure between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.”