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Explainer | How important is Carrie Lam’s Beijing trip before her policy address, and what’s at stake for Hong Kong?
- Chief executive postponed her policy speech last month, citing need to consult central government, raising expectations of solid policy gains
- Move adds to concern over Hong Kong’s role in national development amid Shenzhen’s rise and talks on country’s 14th five-year plan
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Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and five top officials flew to Beijing on Tuesday, where they will hold talks with top ministries on measures to jump-start the city’s ailing economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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The officials flanking Lam are the city’s health, transport, technology, financial services and mainland affairs chiefs, with analysts earlier saying solid policy gains were expected from the trip.
Lam’s visit occurred just days after the Communist Party’s fifth plenum, a four-day session among top decision makers charting the nation’s economic and political course for the next five years, with technological advancement at its core, according to a communique released on Thursday.
The Post looks at what may be on Lam’s policy wish list, who her team could meet, and what Hongkongers can expect from the talks.
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Is this trip an unusual arrangement? Why did Lam seek such meetings?
The move is indeed uncommon. Since taking office in July 2017, Lam had delivered three annual policy addresses in October, after months of local consultation.
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