Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to meet Vice-Premier Han Zheng in Beijing for first official sit-down since protests erupted
- Sources say she will be briefed on key policies on protest crisis, as well as enactment of national security law
- This marks change of plans for chief executive’s mainland visit, with Lam to fly to the capital to meet state leader in charge of Hong Kong affairs
Hong Kong’s embattled leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has been called to Beijing for an unscheduled meeting with Vice-Premier Han Zheng on Wednesday, with sources saying this would involve key policy directives on the protest-hit city, amid discussions on the national security law.
It would be the chief executive’s first official sit-down with Han, the state leader in charge of Hong Kong’s affairs, since the mass protests broke out in June.
It also said Beijing would “enhance the system and mechanism over the appointment of the chief executive and principal officials.”
A mainland expert on Hong Kong affairs said Han would use the occasion to instruct Lam of the key policy directives laid out at the plenum meeting.
“The leadership has laid out some specific requirements and policy direction on Hong Kong. Some of these are not made public. Han will give Lam more specific directions on these points,” said the expert who spoke on condition of anonymity.