Xia to lay down the law for district reps

All 470 incoming district councilors are required to watch the live broadcast of an "important speech" by Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong to be made at a high-level seminar in Beijing on Friday, sources said.

The seminar, to start at

9.30 am, marks the 10th anniversary of Beijing's semi-official think tank, the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.

All councilors are understood to have received an invitation from the government yesterday, requiring them to be at the central government offices in Admiralty to watch the broadcast.

In it, sources said, the government said "the summit is a very important activity, and therefore all incoming district councilors are required to participate."

Other sources said all councilors are required to watch the broadcast because Xia will be elaborating on his expectations of their term of office.

The news came as Acting Chief Executive Eric Chan Kwok-ki brushed off claims that the new performance monitoring mechanism guidelines should not exert any pressure on patriotic district councilors who love Hong Kong.

The guidelines on monitoring district councilors, announced in a 1-hour crash course on Monday, stipulates that councilors shall open an office and serve their constituents at least 40 hours a week.

"The guidelines are only listing out the correct attitude and behavior expected of a councilor," Chan said. "I believe most of the councilors who are genuinely serving residents and patriots who love Hong Kong should find these guidelines normal and without any pressure."

He said councilors elected in 2019 had lost their way, with many of them not attending meetings and taking part in many undesirable actions instead.

"Therefore the government is now listing out rules. If councilors are not performing their duties or take part in unacceptable behaviors, authorities will be able to follow up in accordance with the rules," Chan said.

He also said councilors should also put national security as their first priority: "It is simple. If national security is not secured, economic development and livelihood improvement will all be empty talk."

North councilor and primary school principal Chu Wai-lam expressed confidence in fulfilling the guidelines' requirements through good time management despite holding two posts at the same time.

Chu, vice-chairman of the New Territories School Heads Association, said he works even during weekends and that he will allocate time to be spent at school and at his councilor's office. Staff, he added, will be available to offer help at the office.

"Nowadays being a principal no longer means just staying on campus, as we have to take up different roles in the communities and organizations, such as the principal associations," Chu said.