Hong Kong must be a reformer not a ‘complacent idler’, official says

The head of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has urged the city to be a “reformer who braves challenges” rather than a “complacent idler”, expressing expectations that the executive-led governance model will be strengthened.Office director Zhou Ji made the remarks on Wednesday at a reception to celebrate the coming Lunar New Year, also saying he expected Hong Kong to proactively align with the country’s 15th five-year plan and better serve national development.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu outlined four key priorities for the coming year in his speech at the event hosted by the office: deepening integration into national development; boosting the economy; improving residents’ livelihoods; and optimising the executive-led mechanism.Zhou, attending the event for the first time since assuming office in May last year, urged Hong Kong to achieve high-quality economic development.“I believe Hong Kong will better coordinate development and security, and cultivate new-quality productive forces based on local conditions,” he said. “Be a reformer who braves challenges rather than a complacent idler.”Zhou Ji delivers his speech at the reception. Photo: Elson LiHe reiterated calls from Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, who recently urged the city to improve its executive-led governance model.