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South China Morning Post
27-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong visit by deputy director of Beijing office linked to megaproject: analysts
A recent visit to Hong Kong by the new executive deputy director of the central government's top office for the city's affairs was likely to have been to check on the progress of the Northern Metropolis megadevelopment, political analysts have said. Advertisement Xu Qifang, the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), made his first official visit to the city last week following his appointment earlier this month. According to a statement from the office, Xu led a team to Hong Kong and Macau to carry out research, meet officials from both cities and conduct on-site inspections of the Northern Metropolis and Hengqin cooperation zone, across from Macau. It was believed to be Xu's first visit to Hong Kong since he was appointed earlier in July, taking over from Zhou Ji, who was made the director of Beijing's liaison office in the city. Xu Qifang was appointed to the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office this month. Photo: Xinhua Veteran political commentator Sonny Lo Shiu-hing said on Sunday that he believed Xu had 'several objectives' in coming to the city beyond the standard courtesy visit one would expect from an official being appointed to the role.
HKFP
23-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Chinese official hails national security law as Hong Kong's ‘guardian,' urging focus on ‘high-quality development'
China's top official on Hong Kong affairs has praised the Beijing-imposed national security law as the city's 'guardian,' adding that Hong Kong should use the rule of law to safeguard 'high-quality development.' The implementation of the national security law over the past five years has demonstrated that it is a 'good law with significant historical and practical importance,' Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO), said on Saturday at the opening ceremony of a forum marking the law's fifth anniversary. Xia said the Hong Kong government had fostered a 'new atmosphere' in governance, including the successful completion of Article 23 legislation — the city's domestic security law — last year. He said patriotic forces in Hong Kong could now 'hold their heads high,' while improvements in the city's business environment were 'plain for all to see.' Xia, who arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday for a five-day visit, went on to say that Hong Kong still faces a 'complex and grave' situation in regards to safeguarding national security. He said that the city must follow China's national security principles and ensure that power is 'held firmly' in the hands of patriots. 'Five years of implementation have proven the Hong Kong national security law to be a 'guardian' of the One Country, Two Systems principle and a safeguard of Hong Kong's prosperity and stability,' a statement from the HKMAO read quoting Xia. The HKMAO statement went on to say: 'The Hong Kong SAR government and all sectors of society must unite, seize opportunities, and take up responsibilities… and continuously advancing the high-quality development of the One Country, Two Systems framework.' The HKMAO director urged the city to pay attention to trade crackdowns, financial risks and the dissemination of 'false information.' He also called on the government to attract talent and maintain a 'free and open' business environment to draw investors from around the world. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The rule of law, which Xia described as Hong Kong's 'hallmark,' should be used to consolidate the city's status as an international financial, aviation, and trading hub. He added that the government should maintain an 'executive-led' system, and that different sectors should support Chief Executive John Lee and his administration in introducing reform and promoting high-quality development. At the same opening ceremony, Lee vowed to accurately implement the One Country, Two Systems principle and take advantage of Hong Kong's current stable situation to boost the economy and improve people's livelihoods. The Hong Kong leader revealed on Tuesday that a total of 332 people had been arrested for national security offences since the national security law was enacted on June 30, 2020. Legislation was tightened in May, making it illegal to disclose information relating to cases overseen by the Office for Safeguarding National Security. The chief executive said that the law only targeted a small group of people, adding that – on average – 66 people were apprehended under the security law each year – lower than the average annual number of total arrests, which stood at around 30,000. The security law gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The city also saw newsrooms raises and journalists jailed, but authorities have rejected criticism of the law by trade partners, the UN and NGOs. In September last year, five US departments – including the Departments of State, Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, and the Treasury – issued a warning about increasing business risks in Hong Kong, citing the 'broad and vague provisions' of the two security laws. The Hong Kong government later rejected the claims, calling them 'false' and 'baseless.' Separate from the 2020 Beijing-enacted security law, the homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for pre-charge detention of up to 16 days, and suspects' access to lawyers may be restricted, with penalties involving up to life in prison. Article 23 was shelved in 2003 amid mass protests, remaining taboo for years. But, on March 23, 2024, it was enacted having been fast-tracked and unanimously approved at the city's opposition-free legislature.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Remove barriers to speed up Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis, Xia Baolong says
Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs has urged local authorities to speed up work on the Northern Metropolis megaproject by removing barriers while also safeguarding national security against the threat of 'soft resistance', according to the city's leader. Advertisement Seeing off Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) director Xia Baolong at the border at the end of his five-day visit , Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday that the city was told to take advantage of the stability and safety brought by the national security law's implementation five years ago by boosting development and the economy. Xia, whose inspection trip marked the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed law, had set out the future directions of the city's development during the trip, Lee said. The city leader added that Xia had reaffirmed his support for the administration's work. Xia also praised the work of community care teams, who helped needy households, and encouraged them by composing a poem for the carers, Lee said. 'Director Xia reminded us to continue safeguarding national security,' Lee told reporters at the Shenzhen Bay crossing after Xia's departure. 'The risks still exist especially when the geopolitical situation is complex, and we should always stay vigilant against soft resistance. Advertisement 'We should work on security and development by taking advantage of the safety and stability.'
South China Morning Post
21-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Xia on Hong Kong's future: strong governance, economy, society
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP's journalism by subscribing . New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs addressed a national security law forum on Saturday as part of his third inspection visit to the city to assess its progress on multiple fronts. Xia Baolong's attendance at the forum, held to mark the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed legislation, was a focus of the official's five-day visit. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) director used the event to share his latest assessment of national security threats in the city, and issue directions for the city's development. More from our coverage: Reporting by Jeffie Lam, Jess Ma and Willa Wu.
South China Morning Post
21-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
What's next - Xia Baolong speaks on national security law's fifth anniversary
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP's journalism by subscribing . New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs is addressing a national security law forum on Saturday as part of his third inspection visit to the city to assess its progress on multiple fronts. Xia Baolong's attendance at the forum, which is being held to mark the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed legislation, is a focus of the official's five-day visit. Commentators have suggested that the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) director may use the event to share his latest assessment of national security threats in the city and lay down the direction for the next phase of the law's implementation. More from our coverage: Reporting by Jeffie Lam, Jess Ma and Willa Wu.
