Hong Kong must build on progress made as it enters latest chapter
The fifth anniversary of Hong Kong's national security law was marked yesterday with a high-level forum that reflected on the past but looked to the future.
Xia Baolong, Beijing's top official overseeing the city's affairs, recognised the progress Hong Kong has made since 2020, noting it had entered a new stage of development. But he warned this is a critical period for the city, which needs to adapt, seize opportunities and rise to new challenges.
Xia's five-day visit has included meetings with officials, politicians, business leaders, universities and foreign chambers of commerce.
It is an important trip. When the national security law was passed by China's legislature, Hong Kong was a different place, facing unprecedented difficulties. Months-long anti-government protests in 2019 rocked the city.
This was followed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which also battered the economy and restricted international engagement.
Xia described the legislation as a good law that targeted a small minority, had restored order and provided the foundation for the city's recovery and renewal. Hong Kong has bounced back, attracting business, investment, tourists and talent, staging international conferences and a wide variety of 'mega-events'.
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