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HKFP
19-06-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Beijing official praises Hong Kong leader for ‘positive progress' in boosting economy, improving people's livelihoods
China's top official on Hong Kong affairs has praised the city's leader for making 'positive progress' in boosting the economy and improving people's livelihoods. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO), arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday evening for a five-day visit. He met with Chief Executive John Lee, other top officials, Legislative Council President Andrew Leung, and Chief Justice Andrew Cheung at Government House. In a Chinese-language statement released after the meeting, the HKMAO said Xia praised Chief Executive John Lee for 'implementing the important instructions' of China's President Xi Jinping. The Hong Kong leader has 'taken proactive steps to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and security' and upheld the principle of 'patriots governing Hong Kong,' it also said. The chief executive 'has focused his efforts on boosting the economy, pursuing development, and improving people's livelihoods – achieving positive progress across various areas,' the statement quoted Xia as saying. Last month, the Hong Kong government announced that the city's GDP grew by 3.1 per cent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. On Tuesday, the Census and Statistics Department reported that the unemployment rate rose to 3.5 per cent for the March-to-May period, up from 3.4 per cent between February and April. The Hong Kong government said on Wednesday night that Lee extended his warmest welcome to Xia and expressed gratitude to the Beijing official for his 'continued concern and support for Hong Kong.' Xia is scheduled to attend a government-organised forum on Saturday, marking the fifth anniversary of the enactment of the national security law. Promotional materials released by the government on Tuesday showed that fencing athlete and Olympic gold medallist Vivian Kong will be among the panellists, discussing how 'security brings prosperity' and how to make patriotism a 'mainstream value in society.' The Beijing official, who is set to remain in Hong Kong until Sunday, is also expected to conduct inspections around the city, although the government has not disclosed details of his itinerary. Xia first visited Hong Kong in April 2023, during which he gave a keynote speech on National Security Education Day. At that time, he said the city 'seems peaceful' but some 'undercurrents are still simmering,' adding that the root of the 2019 extradition bill unrest had not been eliminated. He made inspection visits to Hong Kong in February this year and last year. He visited Macau for six days last month. 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 move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
HKFP
17-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Beijing official Xia Baolong to visit Hong Kong ahead of 5th anniversary of nat. security law
Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs will visit the city for five days this week to attend a forum marking the fifth anniversary of the national security law, Chief Executive John Lee has announced. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO), will visit Hong Kong from Wednesday to Sunday, Lee said at a weekly press briefing on Tuesday, ahead of the Executive Council meeting. The main focus of Xia's visit will be to attend a national security law forum organised by the Hong Kong government on Saturday, Lee said. The Chinese official, whom Lee said 'knows Hong Kong's situation very well,' will also inspect the city's 'economic situation and social development' during his five-day visit. Lee added that he was 'very encouraged' by Xia's trip. The Hong Kong leader said the government will maintain 'close communication' with the HKMAO before announcing details of Xia's itinerary. Xia first visited Hong Kong in April 2023, during which he gave a keynote speech on the National Security Education Day. At that time, he said the city 'seems peaceful' but some 'undercurrents are still simmering,' adding that the root of the 2019 extradition bill unrest had not been eliminated. He made inspection visits to Hong Kong in February this year and last year. He visited Macau for six days last month. Lee also said 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. The chief executive pointed out that on average, 66 people were apprehended under the security law each year – far lower than the average annual number of total arrests, which stood at around 30,000. 'Sixty-six out of 30,000, the percentage is 0.2. When we promulgated the national security law, we made it very clear that the law is aiming at only a small portion of people who endanger national security. This figure reinforces that clear message,' Lee said. 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 move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs. In March 2024, Hong Kong enacted its homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which 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.
Asahi Shimbun
03-06-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Hong Kong leader says sudden removal of China's top official in the city was ‘normal'
Zheng Yanxiong, director of China's Hong Kong Liaison Office, speaks during the National Security Education Day opening ceremony in Hong Kong, China April 15, 2024. (REUTERS) HONG KONG--Hong Kong's leader said on Tuesday that China's recent removal of its top representative in the city, known for his hardline policies on national security, had been a 'normal' personnel change. In a surprise development, China announced late on Friday that Zheng Yanxiong, the director of China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong - Beijing's main representative office in the city with powerful oversight over local affairs - had been 'removed' from his post. He was replaced by Zhou Ji, a senior official with the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office on the State Council. Zheng, who played a key role in the crackdown on Hong Kong's democratic movement in recent years, was also stripped of his role as China's national security adviser on a committee overseeing national security in Hong Kong. No explanation by Beijing or Chinese state media was given for the change. According to a person with knowledge of the matter, Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison's proposed sale of its global port network to a consortium initially led by U.S. firm Blackrock had caught senior Chinese leaders 'by surprise' as they had not been informed beforehand and Zheng was partly blamed for that. The person, who has spoken with the liaison office, declined to be identified as the discussions were confidential. The Liaison Office gave no immediate response to faxed questions from Reuters. Zheng had served in the post since January 2023 and while the position has no fixed term, his tenure was shorter than predecessors including Luo Huining and Zhang Xiaoming. 'The change of the Liaison office director is I believe, as with all changes of officials, very normal,' Lee told reporters during a weekly briefing, without being drawn on reasons for the reshuffle. 'Director Zheng has spent around 5 years (in Hong Kong). Hong Kong was going through a transition period of chaos to order,' Lee said, referring to the months-long pro-democracy protests that erupted across Hong Kong in 2019 while adding that he looked forward to working with Zhou. CK Hutchison's ports deal has been criticized in Chinese state media as 'betraying' China's interests and bowing to U.S. political pressure. The conglomerate, controlled by tycoon Li Ka-shing, agreed in March to sell the majority of its $22.8 billion global ports business, including assets along the strategically significant Panama Canal, to the consortium. The consortium is now being led by another member - Terminal Investment Limited, which is majority-owned by Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte's family-run MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. The deal is still being negotiated. Asked whether Zheng's removal reflected a pivot by Beijing towards economic development from national security, Lee said Hong Kong still needed to pursue both. 'Hong Kong faces a stage where development and safety must be addressed at the same time because any development must have a safe environment.' China promulgated a powerful national security law in 2020, arresting scores of opposition democrats and activists, shuttering liberal media outlets and civil society groups and punishing free speech with sedition - moves that have drawn international criticism.
South China Morning Post
15-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Uncertain times make Beijing's vigilance on national security more critical
National Security Education Day has become an important event in the Hong Kong government's calendar over the past decade. Advertisement Amid intensifying geopolitical tensions fuelled by the much-criticised move by the United States to raise tariffs, Tuesday's occasion has added significance in Hong Kong's drive to strengthen public awareness and protection on this front. This is especially important as the changing global political and economic order has made the outlook increasingly uncertain. The tough rhetoric from Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong, underlined China's resolute stance against foreign pressure in the escalating trade war. Criticising the US move as 'extremely arrogant and shameless', Xia, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said: 'The US isn't after our tariffs – it is after our very survival ... Advertisement 'This makes it clearer to the world that the US cannot tolerate Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, and it is the biggest sinister manipulator undermining human rights, freedom, the rule of law, prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China Trolls JD Vance by Turning His Own Insult Against Him
A top Chinese official has trolled Vice President JD Vance by using his own insult against him after the country hiked levies on U.S. goods. In a TV address, Xia Baolong said that China was hitting back at the Trump Administration's overbearing tariffs by instating import duties of 125 percent on U.S. imports. 'Let those peasants in the U.S. wail before the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization,' he said, commandeering the term Vance used in a Fox News interview earlier this month when he referred to 'Chinese peasants.' Baolong, according to Reuters, noted how Trump had singled out China when he reneged on super-charged 'Liberation Day' tariffs, but kept a 145 percent tax on Chinese goods. The director of China's executive arm in Hong Kong said the trade war is 'extremely shameless' and aims to 'take away Hong Kong's life.' Saying that China, including its special administrative region Hong Kong, does not buckle under pressure from 'bullying,' Baolong then used Vance's 'peasants' jibe against the U.S. He added, 'The Chinese people do not cause trouble, nor are they afraid of trouble. Pressure, threats, and blackmail are not the right way to deal with China.' Baolong's official title is Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. He made the retort during a speech for Hong Kong's National Security Education Day. It comes after the U.S. Vice President used the term during an interview on Fox News two weeks ago. 'I think it's useful for all of us to take a step back and ask ourselves, what has the globalized economy gotten the United States of America?' he said. 'Fundamentally, it's based on two principles, incurring a huge amount of debt to buy things other countries make for us… We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things that Chinese peasants manufacture,' he said, in an attempt to defend Trump's controversial tariff measures. Clapping back days later, Beijing said Vance lacks 'knowledge and respect.' Beijing 'has made its position perfectly clear on its trade relations with the U.S.,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a press conference. 'To hear words that lack knowledge and respect like those uttered by this vice president is both surprising and kind of lamentable,' he added.
