Xia Baolong reveals that Hong Kong civil servants may become pawns of the party-state due to “national tasks”
The National Association for Hong Kong and Macao Studies held a 10th anniversary seminar in Beijing on Friday (22nd). Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council of the Communist Party of China, talked about “patriotism” in his speech to Hong Kong civil servants and district councilors. Analysts believe that this is the first time that the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office has stated a “national task”. Civil servants and parliamentarians who were politically neutral in the past will be transformed from supervisors into minions of the party and state, losing the space to serve the people.
The Hong Kong government watched Xia Baolong’s video speech at the Hong Kong branch of the Government Headquarters in the morning. Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, and Dong Jingwei, Director of the National Security Agency, attended the political meeting in person. District councilors-elect who had been asked to “must attend” earlier also attended.
In his speech, Xia Baolong said that members of the Legislative Council are “an important part of the governance team” and “should have positive interactions with the SAR government to continuously improve their level of participation in and deliberation of politics.” District councilors are “assistants in governance” and should “be emotionally involved.” “Communicate and report information” to play a good role as a bridge between the government and residents; and the business community should also “actually fulfill social responsibilities to show a new atmosphere of patriotism and love for Hong Kong”. Political organizations and associations should fully support the chief executive and the government in accordance with the law. Governance etc.
Xia Baolong also conveyed “patriotism” to all district councilors-elect, saying not to care about the personal interests of the “small self” but to consider the interests of the country and the overall interests of Hong Kong as the consideration of the “big self”.
Xia Baolong also mentioned the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law, saying that Hong Kong’s “shortcomings in safeguarding national security must be made up as soon as possible…”
“Free Asia” believes that according to Xia Baolong and the new meaning given to the Legislative Council, District Councils and civil servants, in Hong Kong, regardless of the parliament, civil servants, industrial and commercial circles, political parties and business circles, they are only the “auxiliary role” of the government and have completely collapsed. The role of the “separation of powers” of Hong Kong’s executive, judicial and legislative powers.
The report quoted current affairs commentator Samp’s analysis as saying that this is the first time that the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China has made it clear that all civil servants, businessmen, and members of parliament must serve the party-state dictatorship, which runs counter to Hong Kong’s core values of democracy and human rights. The former public servants have become pawns of the party-state and have lost the space to serve the people.
Samp also said that Xia Baolong’s request to speed up the 23-article legislation highlights Beijing’s hope that through legislation, it can cover all national security issues in order to achieve the goal of racketeering crimes.
After eight years, the Hong Kong government has recently restarted the investment immigration program, hoping to bring more than HK$100 billion in new capital to Hong Kong’s economic downturn. However, outside analysts believe that after the implementation of the “Hong Kong National Security Law”, Hong Kong’s investment environment is not what it used to be, and it may be difficult for the Hong Kong government to realize its wishful thinking.
The Hong Kong government re-launched the “Capital Investor Entry Scheme” on December 19 and is expected to officially launch it and accept applications in the middle of next year.
The new scheme has three categories of permitted investment assets, including financial assets, non-residential real estate and the newly established Capital Investor Entry Scheme investment portfolio.
Applicants must have absolute beneficial net assets of no less than HK$30 million within two years before applying, have no bad records, and comply with general immigration and security regulations. They can bring their dependents to Hong Kong, including spouses and minors. Unmarried dependent children.
The Hong Kong government launched the capital investor entry program for the first time in 2003, with an investment threshold of HK$6.5 million. In 2010, the Hong Kong government raised the investment amount to HK$10 million until it was suspended in 2015.
Compared with the earlier investment immigration program, except for the significantly higher financial threshold, other conditions of the new program remain largely unchanged.
Yan Baogang, former director of Hong Kong Cable Finance Channel and financial commentator, told VOA that the Hong Kong government launched the “High Talent Pass” program at the end of last year, through which there is almost no cost to apply to become a new immigrant to Hong Kong. Now the investment amount for investment immigration has been increased from 10 million to 30 million, and financial investment is required, which makes people doubt the effectiveness of the plan.
Yan Baogang further pointed out that after the implementation of the “Hong Kong National Security Law”, Hong Kong’s investment environment is no longer comparable to that of the past. In addition, the connection between mainland China and Hong Kong has been greatly strengthened, and investors are worried about whether it is safe to store funds in Hong Kong.
Take Singapore, which is regarded as a competitor to Hong Kong, as an example. In March this year, Singapore announced new investment immigration regulations. The threshold is that applicants must invest at least 10 million Singapore dollars to establish a commercial entity.
Yan Baogang pointed out, “10 million Singapore dollars is equivalent to close to 60 million Hong Kong dollars, and the gap with Hong Kong is not that big. Mainland residents’ primary concern is the safety of their assets. They would rather pay more than put their money in Hong Kong.”
In addition, Yan Baogang disagrees with the Hong Kong government’s reference to previous plans and the expectation that the new plan will bring 120 billion yuan in new capital to Hong Kong.
Yan Baogang pointed out that in the past year, affected by China’s economic slowdown, Hong Kong’s stock market, property market, export and shipping markets have suffered serious decline. “Basically, the mainland is slowing down, and Hong Kong is completely unable to rely on its own efforts to get its economy back on its feet.”
Jimmy Lai’s son responds to preliminary ruling on national security case
Next Media founder Jimmy Lai and three companies related to Apple Daily were charged with “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” and other crimes. After two days of adjournment, the trial entered its third day today (December 22). Three judges designated by the National Security Law issued a ruling on the argument that the crime of conspiracy to publish seditious publications exceeded the prosecution time limit. They unanimously ruled that the prosecution did not exceed the time limit, and the case was adjourned to the 2nd of next month.
The Observatory issued a cold warning today, recording a minimum of 8.6°C, the coldest winter solstice in 24 years. The hearing resumed at 11 o’clock this morning at the West Kowloon Court (temporary High Court). Dozens of citizens attended the court to observe. The police deployed anti-terrorism teams armed with live ammunition and police dogs on guard.
Jimmy Lai wore a blue suit, a light green sweatshirt and a white shirt when he appeared in court. He was in good spirits. After entering the prisoner’s column, he waved and nodded to the gallery, and looked at the family gallery from time to time, and used gestures and mouth shapes to communicate with his family members.
Senior counsel for the defense, Pang Yao-hong, earlier argued that the last article involved in this case was published on June 24, 2021, and the prosecution deadline should be December 24 of the same year. The prosecution only charged Jimmy Lai with incitement on December 28, 2021, four days after the prosecution deadline, and believed that the court did not have the authority to hear this charge.
However, the judge ruled that the prosecution wrote to the court on December 13, 2021, and the court received the letter the next day. It believed that when the prosecution filed the charge with the court, the prosecution for incitement had already been launched and had not been The statutory prosecution time limit of six months was exceeded.
The court adjourned the case to January 2 next year, when the prosecution will make its opening statement.
According to “Chasing News”, Lai Chi-ying’s son Lai Chong-en responded to the latest court ruling, saying that the Hong Kong government’s purpose is to suppress his father who spoke out for Hong Kong’s freedom and democracy. He emphasized that today’s ruling is only a small part, and the real attack will come later. National security cases being tried. Lai Chongen reiterated that the Hong Kong government needs to immediately and unconditionally release Jimmy Lai.
2023-12-22 20:18:53
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