Jobs, school places and housing funds for Hongkongers among ‘goodies’ declared after Carrie Lam’s meeting with Xi Jinping

China’s President praised Hong Kong’s leader for ‘a good start’ and ‘fostering stability’ while stressing Beijing’s ‘comprehensive jurisdiction’ over the city

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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s meeting with President Xi Jinping took place at the end of her maiden duty visit to Beijing. Photo: ISD

Published: 6:00pm, 15 Dec 2017Updated: 11:36pm, 15 Dec 2017

Hongkongers stand to benefit from landmark schemes such as access to jobs and school places and housing funds on the mainland, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor revealed on Friday as she wrapped up her maiden duty visit to Beijing.

Hours after she met President Xi Jinping who praised her for having a “good start” to her first five and half months in office and “fostering stability” in the city, Lam announced the slew of goodies she secured from mainland authorities.

She told the media that they had agreed to allow Hong Kong students graduating from mainland universities find jobs with a certificate, allow more Hong Kong children to study in public schools and enable Hongkongers working on the mainland to contribute to a fund to help them to own property.

In her meeting with Xi, Lam was also advised to continue working to unite Hongkongers, as the president stressed Beijing’s “comprehensive jurisdiction” over the city.

Beijing seeks better understanding of Communist Party’s work and goals from Hong Kong

During her wrap-up interview with the media, Lam was asked if she discussed the enactment of the national security legislation, Article 23 of the Basic Law, with Xi and if she had been told to press on with it.

“The length of my duty visit is short, and so we did not discuss individual matters. But it is Hong Kong’s constitutional responsibility to enact Article 23 through local legislation...But because this is very controversial, we need to do it when the environment is suitable.