Xia’s detailed calls ‘suggest shift in policy on guidance’
HKMAO chief’s lengthy statements signal Beijing taking proactive role in local affairs, analysts say
Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong’s affairs has issued conspicuously lengthier statements detailing his string of meetings with local officials over the past week, in a move political watchers said signalled the central government’ plan to issue explicit policy directions in areas it was most concerned about.
The shift in Beijing’s approach drew attention after Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, laid down his expectations for the city in rare, detailed statements about his meetings with the city’s ministers for innovation and technology, tourism and education in Beijing over the past two days.
On Friday, Xia met Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuklin and representatives of 22 Hong Kong tertiary education bodies, during which he called on the institutions to cultivate national sentiment among students, advocate patriotism and contribute more to the country’s development.
“I hope that the leaders of Hong Kong’s tertiary institutions will take up the important responsibility of upholding the fundamentals of moral education, cultivating national sentiment and singing the theme of patriotism and love for Hong Kong,” Xia was quoted as saying in the 652word statement.
Just a day before, the Beijing official issued a 310-word statement after meeting innovation minister Sun Dong, urging him to identify Hong Kong’s position in the sector, plan reasonably and proactively align with national development goals while “fully recognising” the city’s efforts in promoting the policy area.
But the statement that raised eyebrows the most was a 359word one regarding his meeting with Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yunhung on the same day.
Xia endorsed the local administration’s “positive efforts” in developing tourism, while urging it to revitalise its offerings amid “profound changes” in the market and treat every corner of the city as a potential spot that could lure visitors. Just two days later, Beijing announced it would allow residents from eight more mainland cities to travel to Hong Kong under the solo traveller scheme.
The three statements were at least six times longer than the two released one month earlier when Xia met Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu and Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Saihung in the capital. Both statements were no more than 50 words, mentioning only the time and place of the meeting.
Veteran political commentator Sonny Lo Siu-hing said the latest statements demonstrated Beijing’s “foremost” concerns in the development of education, tourism and innovation.
“With detailed calls being revealed, I believe explicit policy directions in these three aspects have been handed down to the bureau chiefs during the meetings,” Lo said.
Professor Lau Siu-kai, a consultant at semi-official Beijing think tank the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, attributed the difference in lengths to the central government’s more proactive approach to exercising its overall jurisdiction over the city.
“The ministers and bureau chiefs were appointed by the central government, which has the authority and responsibility to extend instructions and guidance to them,” Lau said. “An increasing number of policies and actions in Hong Kong also require support and coordination from the mainland in order to be implemented.”
Yeung yesterday said Xia’s remarks could be seen as demonstrating the Beijing official’s great confidence in the city’s tourism market.
“The most important thing is that we should strive for changes when facing transitions and stay united in boosting the sector,” he said.
Separately, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu held an in-depth discussion on “the strategic deployment for Hong Kong’s economic development” yesterday with key officials and nonofficial members of the Executive Council.
“The city is in the midst of an economic transformation, and it is crucial for us to be innovative, creative, adaptable and responsive to change,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Lee’s comments on creativity and adaptability echoed Xia’s call during a forum marking National Security Education Day last month for Hong Kong to adopt new thinking, methods and routes to address problems.