Central government’s top official in Hong Kong tells city not to be dispirited over economy and that boosts from Beijing are in pipeline

One of three legislators who attended the talk and who spoke to the Post said Zheng offered the city some encouragement.

“Zheng noted it was not a big deal that Hongkongers headed north for consumption, citing that Guangdong officials had not complained about their residents coming to shop in Hong Kong years ago,” the lawmaker, who asked not to be named, said.

“I understand that’s an encouragement from the Beijing official, asking us not to feel defeated by Hongkongers leaving the city to spend.

“His words are like a shot in the arm to us.”

The lawmaker added Zheng also promised that policies designed to boost Hong Kong would come “one by one”, but that he did not go into details.

The three lawmakers who attended the meeting at the city government’s headquarters at Tamar said Zheng delivered a 90-minute talk to officials and legislators, including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.

They added he discussed last month’s two sessions meeting of the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body, as well as his thoughts on Hong Kong’s situation.

The liaison office said later that Zheng said Hong Kong needed to grasp the spirit of the two sessions from seven aspects.

Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong to brief officials, lawmakers on ‘two sessions’

They were the spirit of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech, major national achievements in the past year, confidence in the country’s economic and social development, the importance of high-quality development, the strategy in developing new productive forces, the two sessions’ preparation for this year’s work and matters related to Hong Kong.

“To live up to the spirit of the two sessions, it is important for Hong Kong to develop new productive forces, consolidate and enhance its status as an international financial centre, and coordinate high-quality development and high-level security,” the liaison office quoted Zheng as saying.

Hong Kong residents made nearly 1.76 million outbound trips over the four-day Easter break that ended on April 1, with Guangdong, as well as Fujian and Guizhou provinces, popular destinations.

Immigration Department figures showed the number dwarfed the 400,000 or so inbound trips made by mainland visitors and other tourists.

The trend of Hongkongers heading north over the Easter break has led to complaints from the tourism and restaurant sectors of sluggish business and appeals for more government support.

Another lawmaker at the meeting said that Zheng said he was “angry” after he read some media reports about the Easter holiday that were headed “Long holiday exodus, no hope for Hong Kong to revive”.

“He said such headlines went far beyond well-intentioned criticism, and were a smear on the city and its administration,” the lawmaker added.

Why did Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong praise city?

A third legislator said that Zheng had shed light on two key areas for Hong Kong’s future – the protection of national security and the pursuit of economic growth.

“Zheng told us that Hong Kong must stick to its role as a ‘superconnector’, which links China with the world,” the lawmaker said. “The role should be carried out firmly.”

The third lawmaker added Zheng also appealed for a major effort to boost the city’s economy and said economic growth would not be achieved by the government alone, or by a particular sector.

Chief Executive Lee thanked Zheng for his speech and Beijing for its backing for the work of his administration in a Facebook post.

Tuesday’s meeting was the second time Zheng delivered two sessions takeaways to Hong Kong officials and lawmakers since he took over the post in January 2023.

The Beijing official last year asked Hong Kong to strengthen its position as an international financial, shipping and trade centre.

He added the city should develop its new strength as an international innovation and technology centre and maintain a free and open business environment.