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Hong Kong politics
Hong KongPolitics

String of favourable policies designed to boost Hong Kong in pipeline, Beijing’s top city affairs official vows

  • Director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Xia Baolong says ‘one country, two systems’ governing principle will ‘not need to change’
  • He adds that domestic national security legislation marks new starting point for the city and creates more stable environment for investors

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Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, delivers a speech by video link for the National Security Education Day opening ceremony. Photo: Eugene Lee
Kahon Chan
Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has said a string of favourable policies are in the pipeline for the city and he urged the financial hub to sharpen its competitive edge in a changing environment after national security loopholes were plugged by new legislation.

Xia Baolong, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, on Monday added that the “one country, two systems” governing principle “will not need to change” and underlined the need for the city to reinforce its strengths.

“The central government fully supports Hong Kong in its advance from stability to prosperity,” Xia said in a video address for National Security Education Day. “More measures to support and benefit Hong Kong are coming one after another.”

He added the legislature’s enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance last month marked a new starting point for the city.

Chief Executive John Lee (right) greets Zheng Yanxiong, the director of the central government’s Hong Kong liaison office, at the opening ceremony for National Security Education Day. Photo: Eugene Lee
Chief Executive John Lee (right) greets Zheng Yanxiong, the director of the central government’s Hong Kong liaison office, at the opening ceremony for National Security Education Day. Photo: Eugene Lee

Xia said the city was now better equipped to “identify thieves and protect friends”, which provided a more predictable environment for overseas investors.

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