Editorial | Xi puts faith in Lee to deliver on Hong Kong economic development, reform

The chief executive’s annual duty visit to Beijing may sound like a ritual chore, highlighted by a report to President Xi Jinping and other state leaders. It has long since become much more than that, reflecting defining times in the city, from the healing of social unrest, to fighting a pandemic, to landmark political and security reforms to the gathering pace of cross-border integration.

That is not all that sets the third duty visit of John Lee Ka-chiu’s leadership of the city apart. It also comes at the halfway point of his five-year term of office, and after what Xi described as a “historically completed” mission to safeguard national security by passing a domestic security law as required under Article 23 of the Basic Law.

This was high praise for Lee and his team. Only now, after meeting the precondition of effectively plugging security loopholes, can Hong Kong move on and step up the focus on economic development and fulfilling its integral, connecting role in the country’s rise.

Xi’s meeting with Lee also came a day after the central economic work conference set its economic priorities for 2025, which will include the drafting of the 15th economic development plan from 2026. It is a reminder to Hong Kong to adjust and strengthen its role in national development.

This prompts a comparison of Xi’s remarks with what he said at the same meeting last year. In this regard, there is emphasis on the need to deepen reforms and create new momentum.