Much work still to be done by Lee after Xi praise on duty visit

The chief executive’s duty visit to Beijing has long moved beyond a mere annual political ritual on the government calendar. It became even more significant when John Lee Ka-chiu tabled his second report card under a high-stakes new governance approach. While state leaders are apparently satisfied with Lee’s performance and the direction of Hong Kong’s overall development, a lot more remains to be done to consolidate its stability and prosperity.

In the clearest recognition yet of the city leader’s achievements, President Xi Jinping praised Lee for firmly safeguarding national security and steering the district council system back onto the right track. “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government dares to shoulder responsibilities, accomplishes tasks with excellence, and firmly safeguards national security while revamping Hong Kong’s district council system,” Xi told Lee, whose efforts in strengthening the city’s development momentum and addressing people’s pressing concerns have also been recognised.

The state leader expressed full confidence in Hong Kong’s future and renewed his support for it to consolidate its role as an international financial hub, maritime and trade centre. Coming at a time when doubts and concerns prevail, Xi’s remarks provide a much-needed boost to confidence. His calls for the city to stay united and seize the “historic opportunities” arising from national development should be heeded.

Unlike previous annual duty visits where the chief executive met the president and the premier separately, Monday’s meeting was attended by Xi, Premier Li Qiang as well as top officials from various mainland authorities involved in Hong Kong affairs. The new arrangement is seen as a reflection of the constitutional order and the clearer reporting lines within the Communist Party and state following a governance restructuring.

Lee must realise that with recognition comes even greater expectations. Politically, he has undertaken to complete a Hong Kong-initiated national security law under Article 23 of the Basic Law, which states that the city shall enact legislation to prohibit various crimes undermining security. Even though the political sentiment and landscape have changed since an ill-fated attempt to enact it in 2003, the difficulties must not be underestimated.

Economically, more must be done to speed up the pace of post-Covid recovery and cross-border integration. As rightly pointed out by state leaders, the government needs to work harder in improving the economy and people’s livelihoods. Beijing is fully aware that the city is still struggling with a raft of deep-seated problems. The Lee administration must step up on this front.