Xia Baolong's Legco Visit Hailed As 'historic'

Legco president Andrew Leung has hailed Xia Baolong's visit to the Legislative Council as "historic", saying it would not have been possible for the Beijing official to come without the national security law and patriots ruling the SAR.

Beijing's top official in charge of Hong Kong affairs spent Sunday morning talking and dining with legislators.

Xia was accompanied by liaison office director Zheng Yanxiong, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong Liu Guangyuan, as well as Chief Executive John Lee.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Leung said Xia is satisfied with the work of the lawmakers.

The Legco president refused to disclose what Xia talked about during his sharing session with the lawmakers, but said he did not mention Article 23 security legislation.

"We all welcomed this meeting and we had [a] very good exchange," Leung said.

"Before the meeting, we showed them around in Legco as well, from the gateway from which on July 1 [2019] the rioters got into Legco... we gave him a very good tour. But then from what we gathered, Mr Xia in Beijing knew everything [that] happened in Legco."

DAB chairwoman Starry Lee quoted Xia as saying he has been paying close attention to the work of the legislature, adding he encouraged lawmakers to be united in fulfilling their constitutional roles.

"I mainly told the director about the relationship between the administration and legislature," she said.

"It has gone back to what it is set out to be in the Basic Law, and has lived up to President Xi's expectations. We're cooperating with and monitoring the administration."

Federation of Trade Unions legislator Wong Kwok, meanwhile, said he told Xia about employment and housing issues facing the city, and people's expectations regarding improving the economy and their livelihoods.

Four other legislators – Regina Ip, Martin Liao, Lo Wai-kwok and Michael Tien – also expressed their views to Xia in the Legco chamber.