Tammy Tam

City Beat | When Beijing’s envoy to Hong Kong gets proactive with livelihood issues, it’s not good news for local government or liaison office

Luo Huining’s job request for unemployed man he visited raised eyebrows, but was it a sign that central government sent a senior party official to supervise Chief Executive Carrie Lam?

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Luo Huining, director of the liaison office, sends holiday greetings to Hong Kong resident Ng, 74, during National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo: Handout

Tammy Tam

Published: 2:41pm, 4 Oct 2020Updated: 11:08pm, 4 Oct 2020

Has Beijing sent in a senior party official for more “supervision” of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and the Hong Kong government?

That depends on how it is interpreted, but Hongkongers saw a telling sign last week when Luo Huining, the central government’s top envoy to the city, made his first community visit to underprivileged residents after taking over as head of the liaison office about nine months ago.

What raised eyebrows was Luo’s request to his colleagues accompanying him to help find a job “as soon as possible” for an unemployed man they visited in his 80 sq ft subdivided flat.

To set the record straight, Luo’s predecessors Zhang Xiaoming and Wang Zhimin made similar community outreach visits in the past, but Luo went a step beyond greeting residents to directly seek help for them.

Luo Huining talks with Mr Tsui in his subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po. Photo: Handout

The timing was well picked too, as October 1 this year was not only National Day but also coincided with the traditional family reunion part of the Mid-Autumn Festival.