Xi Wants "Patriots Ruling Hong Kong"

Xi Jinping listens to Carrie Lam give her work report today

 

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-gnor gave a virtual work report to her boss, Presideng Xi Jinping today. 

He said he was concerned about the pandemic situation in the city and praised Lam for her efforts, the latest of which have involved "ambush" lockdowns, though Xi was not as pleased as he was with the other Chief Executive, Macau's Ho Iat-seng.

Xi praised Ho's handling of pandemic in Macau

"In the face of the sudden pandemic, you responded quickly, adopted stringent measures and brought it under control within a short period of time," he told Ho, noting Macau had gone more than 300 consecutive days without a local infection.

Meanwhile today Hong Kong reported 60 new cases, and last night's sudden lockdown in Yau Ma Tei tested some 300 people, yielding only one positive case.

But Xi seemed to be more concerned about Hong Kong's stability and hinted at some possible new measures.

"Hong Kong's significant change from chaos to peace again showed an important rule: We must insist on 'patriots governing Hong Kong', so as to ensure the stable and long-term implementation of 'one country, two systems'," he said, indirectly referring to the anti-government protests in 2019.

Tam says HK had to implement Xi's ideas

Xi said having "patriots ruling Hong Kong" is a "fundamental principle" that affects national sovereignty and security, and that it would also allow "various deep-seated problems" to be effectively resolved and result in greater stability.

Soon after the work report was over, Hong Kong's only delegate to the National People's Congress Standing Committee Tam Yiu-chung, said Xi only set out general principles and it was the task of local and central governments to decide how to implement them.

Political commentator Chung Kim-wah, said Xi's remarks shouldn't be surprising given that it is clear Beijing wants complete control over next year's Chief Executive election, and Hong Kong's situation in general.

But he didn't think Beijing would go so far as to have almost 400 pro-democracy district councillors dismissed from office.

"I don't think they would disqualify all DC members, because that would be too far-reaching and would arouse a lot of condemnation or criticism by the international community," Chung said.

Chung says Beijing wants more control of HK

"But they are trying to kick some people out to ensure that the Election Committee for the election of the CE in the coming year will be fully under control."

The government is currently looking into forcing councillors to take an oath of office to the SAR that could possibly be used as a way to expel them.

It is quite clear what Xi is expecting, and now Lam and her administration will have to do political gymnastics to somehow only have "patriots ruling Hong Kong".

However knowing Lam, she will do whatever it takes to win that praise at the expense of existing election laws in choosing Hong Kong's next leader...