The Hong Kong chief executive’s
annual duty visit to the Chinese capital is a good opportunity to report on and review the city government’s performance as well as set goals for development. What set John Lee Ka-chiu’s fourth visit apart were the prevailing circumstances, with the aftermath of the
Tai Po fire tragedy, the work of the
new legislature and the preparation for the next national five-year plan high on the agenda.
There was full recognition from President Xi Jinping of the work of the Hong Kong leader and his team. This means a lot to Hong Kong at this challenging time. In addition to reiterating his care and sympathy for the victims of the fire, Xi highlighted the strategic planning laid down in the fourth plenum of the Communist Party’s Central Committee for the
15th five-year plan, under which Beijing will continue to support Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity. Xi urged the city to more proactively align with national development. Lee pledged to follow up on post-disaster recovery work while pushing forward high-quality development and reforms.
On Lee’s duty visit last December, Xi highlighted the significance of the third party plenum in July, which set systematic goals for China’s next stage of modernisation and the deepening of reform. This was taken as a reminder to the Lee administration to further undertake reform and be more innovative when aligning the city’s development with the national strategy. The message this year is even louder and clearer as Beijing gears up for the new five-year blueprint.
To Beijing, the
conviction of media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying on Monday for sedition and collusion with foreign forces signals another milestone in the city’s efforts to strengthen national security. Given that stability and prosperity have been restored by the
national security law and the all-patriots
electoral reform, now is the best time to foster new high-quality development and improvements in people’s livelihoods.
There had been steady progress on the economic, social and political fronts until last month when the city saw its deadliest high-rise blaze, which killed
at least 160 people and left thousands homeless. Efforts are being made to help the victims rebuild their lives and to tackle the wide range of systemic problems that contributed to the tragedy. The challenges are daunting and the government must forge ahead with great sensitivity and care.
Lee has more than a year left in his current five-year term. He has rightly pledged to deepen reform, enhance governance and improve livelihoods. From overhauling fire and building safety to boosting the economy and capitalising on the opportunities arising from the next national development blueprint, a lot more still needs to be done.
