Xia Baolong delivers 'clear instructions' on national integration

Jamie Liu

Beijing's top official on Hong Kong affairs, Xia Baolong, has given "clear instructions" on how the city could align itself with national development, according to Acting Chief Executive Eric Chan Kwok-ki.

Xia, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, visited the Shenzhen-Hong Kong technology zone in Hetao on Sunday and met with several senior officials, including Eric Chan and Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po.

Eric Chan said Xia learned about the progress and plans for the tech zone and had a briefing from Paul Chan about the economic situation.

Eric Chan described Xia as "very concerned about Hong Kong." Xi also weighed on the city's plans for its economy and gave guidance on how Hong Kong could integrate into the national development policies, he added. "This is a very good occasion for us to communicate with director Xia so that we have a clear understanding of how the central government is thinking, especially on cooperating with our Guangdong counterparts," he said.

On civil service pay, Eric Chan reiterated that the government always follows a stringent mechanism and would consider a range of factors such as Hong Kong's economic situation, morale and demands raised by civil servants.

Meanwhile, Eric Chan criticized the US government for causing inconvenience to Hongkongers by frequently changing its policies on mail packages.

He said Hong Kong will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization against the United States over its scrapped decision to impose extra duties on mail packages from the city, which disregarded Hong Kong as a separate customs territory.

In related news, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu vowed that Hong Kong's financial service sector will seek better development through further reforms.

Hui said his bureau, along with financial regulatory bodies and the industry, will work together to actively implement measures to deepen financial reform and innovation, developing gold trading, storage, clearing and delivery in Hong Kong.

jamie.liu@singtaonewscorp.com