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Friday, February 19, 2021, 23:26
Luo has a daunting task to accomplish in Hong Kong
By Junius Ho Kwan-yiu and Kacee Ting Wong
Friday, February 19, 2021, 23:26 By Junius Ho Kwan-yiu and Kacee Ting Wong

On Jan 4, 2020, the State Council made a reshuffle move and announced that Luo Huining would replace Wang Zhimin as the new leader of the Liaison Office of the central government in Hong Kong.

In an article titled “Learning from and implementing the spirit of a series of important speeches by President Xi Jinping during his tour of Macao” (People’s Daily, 20/1/2020), Luo clearly laid down his core tasks in Hong Kong. The following discussion will focus on these tasks.

When Luo took up the new post, he seemed to be caught in a paralysis of hope because Hong Kong was in the midst of a chaotic and uncertain period which was unprecedented in its modern history. At this dark hour, Luo was entrusted with the onerous task of ensuring the “one country, two systems” enterprise to “walk steadily into the distance”. The heaven is about to befall a great mission on him.

In order to allow the “one country, two systems” enterprise to operate smoothly, Luo had to prioritize ending street violence and restoring peace and order. While the Hong Kong police force was directly responsible to stop violence and restore order, there was a need for a broader and stronger political platform to ensure the “one country, two systems” enterprise would “walk steadily into the distance”.

Luo’s article elaborates on China’s policy toward its special administrative regions. It reiterates that foreign powers will never be allowed to interfere with the administration of Hong Kong and Macao after their return to China. The determination of Beijing to uphold national sovereignty and security and promote developmental interests is anchored in the rock that endures forever. Luo’s article emphasizes that Hong Kong and Macao have been incorporated into the national governance system of China since their handover. Both SARs are bound by their constitutional obligations to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. And the introduction of a national security law is one of those constitutional obligations, the absence of which has left a loophole in Hong Kong for hostile external forces to threaten China’s national interests. Luo has made it clear: The existence of “two systems” does not preclude the obligation under “one country”. After all, national security is the premise of development in Hong Kong.

The promulgation of the National Security Law (NSL) plays a vital role in ending street violence. But the NSL has attracted a firestorm of criticism from local “pan-democrats” and some Western forces. Since the disputes involve foreign affairs, the Liaison Office needs to maintain effective communication between the central government and HKSAR. The HKSAR government needs to convince those critics that the “one country, two systems” principle remains intact and the NSL is a necessity. In his New Year’s Speech on Feb 5, Luo talked about his four unforgettable moments in Hong Kong. His first unforgettable moment was on July 1, 2020, after the NSL took effect. More than 100 fishing boats paraded in Victoria Harbour and many people held banners that read “National Security, Hong Kong’s tranquility, and Residents’ peace of mind”. The contribution made by Luo in giving top priority to the NSL enactment will not pass unnoticed.

Luo is also tasked with helping Hong Kong visualize its future development by making reference to the city’s increasing reliance on its cooperation with Shenzhen and the rapid development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Before visiting former chief executives Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Luo went to Shenzhen on Jan 8 to promote economic cooperation between the two sides, with particular interest in youth innovation and entrepreneurship, with the prospective of faster development in the GBA. It is worth noting that Luo made four judgments in his speech. Explicit in one of the judgments is that Hong Kong should capture the opportunities created by the GBA and the country’s dual circulation strategy.

Many people like to compare Hong Kong’s development with that of Singapore. In spite of their similarities, Hong Kong enjoys better economic prospects because of its prosperous hinterland. Without a hinterland, Singapore conducts trade and develops economic ties with neighboring countries within its seven-hour flying zone. It is a remedy for Singapore’s geographical constraint. But Singapore relies too heavily on those external links. Hong Kong, on the other hand, develops its economy by relying on the strong support provided by the mainland hinterland. The future development of Hong Kong cannot be separated from its link with the mainland.

Great credit should also be given to Luo for bringing the livelihood problems of Hong Kong to the forefront of our minds when he emphasized the need to address these problems in his speech. It is the height of folly for us to ignore the widening wealth gap in Hong Kong. For example, our housing problem is a deep-seated social problem plaguing the city for years if not decades.

In his article, Luo refers to President Xi Jinping’s confirmation in December 2020 that Macao was a showcase for success; and he highlights the importance of sticking to the “one country” principle and maximizing the advantages offered by the “two systems” arrangement. This helps steer a correct course for the “one country, two systems” enterprise. Putting unswerving faith in the “one country, two systems” principle enables Hong Kong to effectively cope with future challenges.

On Jan 6, 2020, Luo met the media and gave his inaugural speech. Shortly afterward, he gave a New Year’s speech on Jan 15, 2020, during which he used the word “family” 13 times in describing Hong Kong. This reflects the central government’s affection for Hong Kong people.

Junius Ho Kwan-yiu is a Legislative Council member and a solicitor. Kacee Ting Wong is a barrister and a part-time researcher of Shenzhen University Hong Kong and Macao Basic Law Research Center.


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