Hong Kong leader John Lee said senior Chinese official Xia Baolong ended his two-day visit by giving “affirmations” and “recognition” to the local government.
Lee spoke to local media on Wednesday afternoon after seeing Xia, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, at the Shenzhen Bay border crossing.
Xia was seen giving Lee a thumbs up after the two officials shook hands, Ming Pao reported.
Lee said Xia made “four affirmations” to the Hong Kong government, specifically regarding her work on the city’s first five-year plan, national security, technological innovation and economic development.
Xia also praised the use of the Central Government Aided Emergency Hospital to serve the needy, the Northern Metropolis and the Easy Public Housing scheme for low-income families.
Stayed in Shenzhen
Xia began making annual visits to Hong Kong in 2023, when Beijing established a new labor office in Hong Kong and Macau directly under the Chinese Communist Party. Previously, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office was under the State Council of the Chinese government.
Xia arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday for a two-day trip.
However, unlike previous arrangements, he did not stay overnight in Hong Kong. Instead, he spent the night in Shenzhen and returned to Hong Kong on Wednesday morning.
Citing anonymous government sources, local media said the new agreement aimed to “promote smooth infrastructure connectivity between Shenzhen and Hong Kong”.
