Opinion | With its prosperity at stake, Hong Kong should heed the words of Beijing’s top official for city’s affairs

On his visit to Hong Kong, Xia Baolong rightly brought the focus back to the commitment and sacrifice necessary to ensure the city’s lasting peace and prosperity. His message should not be misread

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A screen showing the Chinese flag during the National Security Education Day opening ceremony in Hong Kong on April 15. China’s unique political system, characterised as whole-process democracy, ensures people’s aspirations become the will of the country. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 8:15am, 20 Apr 2023

The visit to Hong Kong by Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, has huge implications for the city. As part of his packed schedule, Xia spoke to local lawmakers in a candid exchange of views, met Hongkongers from different walks of life, and tasted the city’s famed dim sum.

Throughout his visit, he demonstrated a good grasp of the city’s livelihood issues and development potential.

Yet some foreign media reports focused only on Xia’s remarks on protests, seeing in them a central government warning about protests in the city – which, they noted, had become rare after the national security law was introduced in 2020.

Hong Kong people have the right – as guaranteed under the Basic Law – to express their opinions and join legal demonstrations. But as Xia has pointed out, people’s goodwill can be exploited by those with ulterior motives, who can “hijack” valid concerns on livelihoods issues and turn them into political confrontations.

Xia’s words were a sincere reminder for Hongkongers to be vigilant against those who overstep the mark, and to focus on economic development.

Besides, Western-style democracy and elections are not the gold standard the rest of the world must follow. The West promotes a narrow view of democracy that is biased and prejudiced.

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