The liaison office director, who was attending the event on behalf of Beijing’s point man for Hong Kong affairs Xia Baolong, also urged welfare industry leaders to come together and focus on serving the community.
Residents had suffered during past social disputes and the anti-government protests in 2019, with some advocating Hong Kong independence, Zheng said, stressing the city should not stray from the right path or be misled by others.
He encouraged the welfare sector to provide more support to local authorities, with the Beijing official recognising the Hong Kong government’s efforts to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expectations, especially reviving the economy and resolving social issues.
Zheng Yanxiong (centre right), director of Beijing’s liaison office in the city, has urged the social welfare to spread “mainstream social values”. Photo: Jelly Tse
Xi last July urged local authorities to address social problems and promote harmony, stating Hongkongers greatest desires were for “a better life, a bigger flat, more business start-up opportunities, better education for children and better elderly care”.
Zheng said: “The welfare sector is an important brain and a force to convey the government’s care to residents. It is an indispensable force to reduce people’s hardship. I hope the sector can use its advantages to explore ways to serve residents.”
He also urged the sector to capitalise on national initiatives tied to China’s national development plans, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area.
The Belt and Road Initiative is a framework designed to connect China with economies in East Asia and Europe, while the bay area refers to Beijing’s scheme to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine mainland Chinese cities into an economic powerhouse.
On the same day, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-Han signed a memorandum of cooperation with authorities in Guangdong province that focused on providing more care options for Hong Kong elderly residents settling across the border.
Speaking at Monday’s event, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the agreement had been reached following a trip to the mainland last month by local officials.
“The government will continue to promote cooperation with mainland cities in areas such as welfare services to provide appropriate support to citizens in need,” he said.
The city leader also urged the welfare sector to fully support the government and work with it to improve the happiness of residents, as well as provide “thoughtful” services to those in need.
