Visiting leader praises chief executive and his team for upholding national sovereignty and security
President Xi Jinping “fully endorsed” Hong Kong’s outgoing leader for his work in his five-year term, saying his time had “not been easy”, especially in safeguarding national sovereignty and security.
As Xi encouraged Leung Chun-ying to keep contributing to the development of the country and Hong Kong in his new capacity as a vice-chairman of the nation’s top advisory body, he gave him and his team a positive appraisal for their efforts in social and economic developments.
Shortly after getting settled at the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel in Wan Chai, Xi, who is in town for a three-day trip to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule, met Leung in a hotel meeting room.
Xi told Leung, who sat next to him: “These five years have not been easy for you. You have paid much effort in implementing ‘one country, two systems’ and the Hong Kong Basic Law. You handled problems that had accumulated, worked on expanding space for development, and achieved a lot.”
“In particular, on maintaining national sovereignty and security and development interests of the country, you held fast to the spirit of the Basic Law and made contributions, ” he continued. “The central government has full trust in you, and fully endorses your work and that of your administration.”
Xi also noted that, in two days, Leung would focus on an appointment made earlier this year: that of vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, after stepping down as chief executive.
While the president did not spell out what he meant when referring to Leung’s efforts in upholding national sovereignty and security, he expanded on the point at a subsequent event with Leung’s cabinet, top civil servants and the heads of the legislature and judiciary.
