Realise ‘inevitability and urgency’ of patriotic power and nurture talent, top Chinese official urges Hong Kong in message to next administration
- State media reports remarks made by Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference at Beijing meeting
- Wang’s comments also seen as directed at Macau, China’s other special administrative region
A top Chinese official chairing the country’s highest political advisory body has urged Hong Kong to realise the “inevitability and urgency” of the rise of patriotic power and focus on nurturing new talent, according to state media.
Xinhua reported on Saturday that Wang Yang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at a meeting in Beijing a day earlier, seemingly setting the tone for the next Hong Kong administration.
“Wang stressed [there was a need] to learn extensively how to implement the spirit of the discourse set out by General Secretary Xi Jinping about the work on Hong Kong and Macau, to deeply understand the inevitability and urgency of strengthening the constructive power of those who love the country, Hong Kong and Macau,” Xinhua reported.
Wang added both places should hold on to the “fundamental principle of patriots ruling Hong Kong and Macau”, while realising the need for “mass unification”, as well as “cultivating newly emerging power”.
He urged local leaders to work harder on raising their political clout, leadership skills and the ability to unify society to “solve problems, achieve good governance in the special regions and ensure the stability of ‘one country, two systems’”, referring to Beijing’s ruling principle for Hong Kong and Macau.
Those who attended the meeting included Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, who is also a CPPCC vice-chairman.
