Coronavirus: Chinese leader Xi Jinping ‘concerned’ about Hong Kong’s crisis, as top official warns of ‘protracted war’ and urges anti-epidemic work ‘as precise as acupuncture’
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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday raised concern over Hong Kong’s Covid-19 situation at the country’s annual parliamentary sessions, according to a top official who also warned of a “protracted war” for the city and urged it to conduct anti-epidemic work “as precise as acupuncture”.
Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, revealed Xi’s views as he chaired online the eighth meeting of a top-level, tripartite coordination group, according to Hong Kong China News Agency.
Xia said that Xi and many leaders attending the “two sessions”, or lianghui, in Beijing had expressed concern over Hong Kong’s coronavirus situation in a move seen as support for the work of local authorities.
“It is necessary to have an in-depth understanding and grasp of the actual situation in Hong Kong, pay attention to the way works are done, as they should be as precise as acupuncture,” the agency quoted Xia as saying.
Xia added it was necessary to continue to support the city government to assume the main responsibility and leadership role, especially in strengthening inter-departmental coordination, improving treatment capabilities, as well as in the distribution of aid materials and use of isolation facilities the mainland had sent and helped build.
Xia also revealed about 100 officials from Beijing were working in Shenzhen while some 160 staff from Guangdong province and Shenzhen were directly involved in anti-epidemic work in Hong Kong.
He raised the need to guard against activities that would disrupt such efforts in the city.
