Xi’s remarks hailed as ‘inspiring, encouraging’

President Xi Jinping’s remarks made during a meeting in Beijing on Monday with delegations from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions have been described as “inspiring and encouraging” by members of the Hong Kong delegation.

At the meeting during the delegations’ visit to the capital to commemorate the nation’s 40 years of reform and opening-up, Xi affirmed the contributions made by Hong Kong’s business and professional sectors over the past four decades, saying the two SARs will continue to play an “irreplaceable” role in securing greater success for the country and Hong Kong.

Tam Yiu-chung — a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress — told an RTHK program Xi is highly positive about Hong Kong people’s contributions during the economic reform process, and hopes they will continue to contribute by leveraging their strengths.

“We are all exhilarated to hear him say that,” he said.

Speaking to China Daily, Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai — a former NPCSC member — said the president recognizes Hong Kong’s enormous contributions in the past. For instance, the mainland’s first branch office of an overseas-funded bank, the first joint-venture five-star hotel and a joint-venture highway were financed by Hong Kong investors.

Fan, who was formerly president of the Legislative Council, noted that Xi had four hopes, including his hopes for Hong Kong and Macao to help the nation more proactively to open up fully and to integrate themselves into the big picture of national development.

“These hopes are a guiding light for Hong Kong’s future development,” said Fan. “With the unique, irreplaceable advantage of ‘one country, two systems’ that other mainland cities do not have, Hong Kong will continue to play the role of an international platform between China and the world. If Hong Kong integrates into the country’s development, ‘one country, two systems’ is here to stay as a formula for stability and prosperity.”

During the meeting, Xi also commented on “the return of hearts of Hong Kong people after reunification”.

Fan agreed that’s a process that cannot be hastily accomplished. Unlike some delegation members, she did not construe this as the central government’s pressure on the Hong Kong SAR Government to enact Article 23 of the Basic Law, although the president mentioned that Hong Kong and Macao people should consciously safeguard national security.

Veteran NPC deputy Ma Fung-kwok said “the hearts of Hong Kong people have definitely not come home”, citing the emergence of pro-independence voices. Otherwise, Xi would not have raised it although he did not specifically touch on the matter of Article 23.

“The way to win the people’s hearts is an important, longstanding responsibility, as well as the standing agenda of the Hong Kong SAR Government,” Ma told China Daily.

On the timing of Article 23 legislation to protect national security, Ma said: “There’s no such thing as a suitable or unsuitable time. If the social atmosphere is good, some say national security legislation isn’t necessary. If the atmosphere is not good, some say it should not be enacted. It’s just an excuse to avoid legislation.”

Ma saw novelty in Xi’s remarks encouraging Hong Kong people to play a more proactive role in running the country. The president cited the example of Margaret Chan, who was director of health in Hong Kong before becoming director-general of the World Health Organization. “Hong Kong can nurture talented people, and there may come a time when international organizations come to set up offices in Hong Kong.”