Wang lunches with HK lawmakers
Liaison chief: Legislators key elements in HK’s establishment and the nation’s governance system
Wang Zhimin (center), director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, attended a luncheon in the Hong Kong’s Legislative Council complex on Monday along with 51 lawmakers, including eight from the pan-democratic camp. Wang is seen flanked by Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen (left) and Starry Lee Wai-king (right), a lawmaker and chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
The Legislative Council plays an important role in promoting patriotism and maintaining constitutional order in the special administrative region, the central government’s liaison chief said during his visit to Hong Kong’s legislature on Monday.
Speaking at a luncheon with lawmakers at the LegCo complex, Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, said all public officers, including legislators, are important components of Hong Kong’s establishment; under the “one country, two systems” principle they are key elements in the country’s governance system.
Hong Kong had been brought back to the national governance system since its return in 1997, Wang said quoting President Xi Jinping during his visit to Hong Kong last July. All legislators belong to the establishment and have vital roles in fostering people’s patriotism and love for the city, Wang said.
“All lawmakers share both the historic responsibility of national rejuvenation and the pride of a strong and prosperous country,” Wang said.
He noted LegCo had passed more than 600 bills since 1997. This had implemented the constitutional order of the SAR, and all Hong Kong residents abided by them, Wang said.
Established on the foundation provided by the national Constitution and Basic Law after the city’s return to the country in 1997, LegCo is also an important body in maintaining the SAR’s constitutional order and ensuring “one country, two systems” is implemented in accordance with the law, Wang said.
He also expressed confidence that LegCo would make more contributions in future to safeguarding national sovereignty and security, and maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of HKSAR.
He hoped more lawmakers from different social sectors could channel mainstream public opinion into practical actions, participate in more exchange activities with the Chinese mainland and reach more consensuses.
Pleasant gathering
This is the first visit paid by the central government’s liaison chief to LegCo in five years. The last time was when then liaison chief Zhang Xiaoming visited LegCo in January, 2014. Zhang is now the director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.
Wang said he was delighted to come to LegCo again since his last visit as the deputy director in 2014. He described the atmosphere of the luncheon as “good, relaxing and pleasant”.
Fifty-one lawmakers attended the luncheon, including eight “pan-democrats”.
Wang said the luncheon was a good start toward friendly communication; the liaison office looked forward to more communication with various social sectors — including the “pan-democrats”.
Wang invited all legislators to visit the Liaison Office in Sai Wan as well.
“No matter where you may come from — Happy Valley or Sai Wan, Admiralty or Central — we all share the same value of building a better Hong Kong as well as a better country,” Wang said.
“I believe all Hong Kong residents would be happy to see more communication between us,” Wang said.