CE to depart for Beijing for Two Sessions

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will travel to Beijing on Tuesday for this week’s Two Sessions -- the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and top political advisory body.

The meetings of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People's Congress (NPC) and are set to begin on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lee will attend the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th NPC on Wednesday, according to a government statement. Carol Yip Man-kuen, the CE office director, will join the visit.

Lee will return to Hong Kong on Thursday. During his absence, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki will be the acting chief executive.

The Executive Council will not convene meetings on Tuesdays this week and next week, as many council members are also NPC deputies and CPPCC members, who will attend the Two Sessions.

Premier Li Qiang will deliver the government work report at the NPC opening session on Wednesday, unveiling Beijing’s key economic goals including the GDP growth target for 2025.

Starry Lee Wai-king, the city’s sole delegate to the NPC Standing Committee, said she is looking forward to more policies supporting private enterprises, encouraging them to make investments in the country, including Hong Kong.

Noting that 2025 is the final year in 14th Five-Year Plan, China’s national development outline for 2021 to 2025, Lee said Hong Kong would reflect on its contributions in the past five years and contribute proactively to the next five-year plan.

Hong Kong NPC deputy Maggie Chan Man-ki said she would submit five proposals on areas such as women, law and Greater Bay Area talent flow.

Peter Shiu Ka-fai, a Hong Kong CPPCC member, called for expanding the multi-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen tourists to cover the other eight cities in the Greater Bay Area. 

Regarding the initiative to let vehicles from Guangdong province enter Hong Kong, Shiu suggested testing the program in Lantau Island for one year, before expanding it to cover other urban areas.

Gary Ng Cheuk-yan, a senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank, said Beijing may set this year’s target at 5 percent, same as last year, and would continue to emphasize expanding the domestic demand and upgrading industries.

Noting that the main drivers of the mainland’s economy were electric vehicles and other new industries, Ng pointed out that the additional tariff imposed by the United States on Chinese goods would pose a greater challenge to Beijing’s GDP growth.

Deputies from the two SARs to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference met with Beijing's top man on Hong Kong and Macau affairs Xia Baolong in the run up of this week's Two Sessions meetings, according to sources.

It is understood the meeting lasted for around an hour, as Xia, director of the state council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, asked they should participate more as "athletes", rather than being "umpires".

Sources added that both SARs' legislature will be changing terms this year, and therefore hoped deputies would participate with a proactive attitude.

(Jamie Liu)
(Updated at 10.22pm)