Xia Baolong, top Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong affairs, arrives in city on 7-day fact-finding visit

Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs arrived in the city on Thursday, kicking off a seven-day fact-finding visit to the financial hub.

Without addressing the media, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), waved from a shuttle bus as he left the airport accompanied by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Zheng Yanxiong, the head of Beijing’s liaison office in the city.

Sources earlier said Xia would tour the Integrated Airport Centre, launched last year to support the three-runway system, after arriving.

Most opinions in Hong Kong consultation support Article 23 security law: John Lee

The Beijing official will then attend a working lunch with city officials and Airport Authority management before heading to government headquarters in Admiralty for briefings from Lee and top officials in the afternoon.

Insiders said two briefings would be held, with the first including all top officials, while the second would feature key government finance figures such as Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, who was set to brief Xia on the economy and housing policies.

The government earlier said in a statement that Xia aimed to gain a better understanding of local economic development and district governance through his visit.

Lee was expected to host a dinner for Xia at Government House, the city leader’s official residence, on Thursday night.

Top Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong affairs starts 7-day visit on Thursday

Police on Wednesday said they had strengthened their deployment to ensure a smoother visit, including dispatching the Counter Terrorism Response Unit and armoured vehicles to conduct “high-profile anti-terrorism patrols” at different locations.

Sources earlier told the Post a closed-door exchange between Xia and the city’s tycoons would be held on Friday afternoon, with a handful of attendees expected to be called upon to give three-minute speeches specifically on Hong Kong’s business environment and prospects.

Proposed national security legislation required under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, would be a key topic Xia would like to get feedback on, a government insider also said.

A one-month government consultation exercise on the proposed legislation runs until February 28.

Head of Beijing office overseeing Hong Kong affairs to make fact-finding visit

Xia’s trip will conclude on Wednesday next week, the day Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivers his annual budget speech.

The government is under mounting pressure to come up with a blueprint to cut spending and expand revenue as the city’s deficit is projected to exceed HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion).

Xia is on his second trip to Hong Kong in a year, following Beijing’s overhaul of the HKMAO that made it report directly to the Communist Party’s Central Committee rather than the State Council.

During his first fact-finding trip to Hong Kong last April, Xia made a landmark visit to the legislature, the top court and met a range of people, including representatives from foreign commerce chambers. The trip lasted six days.