Xia Baolong Meets Hongkongers From All Walks Of Life

Beijing's top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs on Friday met with people from different walks of life on the second day of his inspection visit to the city.

The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, started the day by having dim sum at a restaurant in Kowloon Bay with Chief Executive John Lee, director of the Liaison Office Zheng Yanxiong and other officials.

Some restaurant-goers said they were pleasantly surprised to see the senior Beijing official, adding that his six-day fact-finding trip highlights the central government's great emphasis on Hong Kong.

Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker and district councillor Bill Tang, who was also eating there at the time, said Xia cares about district affairs and the needs of Hong Kong people.

"He said district councillors should be partners with the government. We should not just promote government policies, but also reflect people's actual needs to the government," Tang said.

Xia later visited a district health care centre and an elderly centre in Sham Shui Po, praising volunteers for their meaningful work.

The top Beijing official also held closed-door talks with legal and political representatives.

Xia visited the Court of Final Appeal where he met with Chief Justice Andrew Cheung, before meeting local members of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Liaison Office.

Xia will attend the opening ceremony of the National Security Education Day on Saturday.