Xia fully confident about HK's future: Starry Lee
Lawmakers on Friday said senior Beijing official Xia Baolong has every confidence in Hong Kong's future development, adding that they feel encouraged after meeting him on the second day of his visit to the SAR. The legislators said they discussed a range of topics with Xia, the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, including economic development, integration with other parts of the Greater Bay Area, and planned Basic Law Article 23 national security legislation. The lawmakers said they would not reveal Xia's comments to them during the meeting, but described the exchange as heart-warming and genuine. "We feel encouraged at the meeting... There's a clear message that the country fully supports legislators in voicing different views," said Priscilla Leung from the Business and Professionals Alliance. The DAB's Starry Lee said Xia is fully confident about Hong Kong's prospects. "We all feel that the central government does support and care about Hong Kong very much. Through Mr Xia's visit, he communicated clearly this message," she said. "We will be united under the Hong Kong administration and under the chief executive, and we will give constructive advice to the Hong Kong government and also to the central government, in the hope that Hong Kong's economy and also livelihood issues can further be enhanced." Lee said she suggested to Xia that army barracks in Hong Kong could be opened to the public for a longer period during special occasions, in order for students to visit and learn about the country's development.