‘Hong Kong has lived up to expectations,’ Beijing says in new year message Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong affairs said on New Year’s Day that the city had lived up to expectations, highlighting its response to the deadly Tai Po fire as proof of “unity and resilience”. The office’s comments came as city leader John Lee Ka-chiu, in response to President Xi Jinping’s new year greetings, pledged that Hong Kong would pursue quality development, deepen reforms and open up. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office noted that both special administrative regions had lived up to expectations and advanced in unity under Xi’s leadership and guidance. “Hong Kong responded effectively and decisively to a major fire, showing unity and resilience in the face of adversity,” the office said in a commentary published under the pen name “Gang Ao Ping”. In his 2026 message delivered on New Year’s Eve, Xi said he was pleased Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau came together in unity during the recent National Games. “Not long ago, I attended the opening ceremony of the National Games, and I was glad to see Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau coming together in unity and acting in unison. “We should unswervingly implement the policy of ‘one country, two systems’, and support Hong Kong and Macau in better integrating into the overall development of our country and maintaining long-term prosperity and stability.” It added that the implementation of the nation’s 15th five-year plan would bring significant new opportunities for the city. The commentary noted that the funds raised through initial public offerings in Hong Kong had tripled year on year, placing the city first globally. “The number of Hong Kong companies with overseas or mainland Chinese parent firms has risen to a record high of nearly 10,000,” the office said. The office also touched on national security, citing the lawful conviction of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying as proof that the rule of law in Hong Kong remained robust and that the judiciary had fulfilled its constitutional responsibilities. “Any attempt by external forces to interfere with Hong Kong’s legal system is bound to fail,” it said. Reviewing Hong Kong’s achievements in 2025, Lee said the administration had successfully consolidated the city’s status as an international financial hub, noting that the stock market’s benchmark Hang Seng Index had risen by 27.8 per cent during the year. “We must anchor our target tasks, firm up confidence, seize the momentum, solidly promote high-quality development, and further comprehensively deepen reform and opening up,” the chief executive said in a social media post. Lee also said that visitor arrivals for the first 11 months of 2025 exceeded 45 million, representing a 12 per cent year-on-year increase, while the daily number of tourists during the Christmas holidays hit a post-pandemic record high. He revealed that about 9,500 light public housing flats were completed on schedule last year, and said the Mandatory Provident Fund offsetting arrangement was abolished to strengthen protection for workers. “In the new year, let us unite, meet difficulties head-on, seize opportunities, promote reform, and build a better Hong Kong together,” Lee said. Lau Siu-kai, a consultant with the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank, said the timing of the commentary – coinciding with the swearing-in of newly elected lawmakers – reflected Beijing’s intent to express its expectations and encouragement for Hong Kong, especially the Legislative Council. “[Beijing] affirms past achievements but also hopes for even better performance in the future,” Lau said, adding that the central authorities expected the legislature’s support and cooperation to further strengthen governance. “The central government has higher expectations for the new Legco, which is more representative and comprises more talent with diverse professional backgrounds and experience.” Lau stressed that Beijing continued to prioritise accountability over the Tai Po fire, even as it praised the government’s response. “[The office] only expressed satisfaction with post-disaster relief, such as caring for affected residents,” Lau said. “The government must push ahead with follow-up measures, including pursuing accountability.” https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338385/hong-kong-has-lived-expectations-beijing-says-new-year-message (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: South China Morning Post