‘Two sessions’ to ‘focus on Hong Kong’s financial role, Northern Metropolis’

Hundreds of Hong Kong politicians and business leaders head to Beijing on Tuesday for the nation’s annual “two sessions”, with observers expecting discussions to focus on the city’s role as an international financial centre and the Northern Metropolis megaproject.The annual session of the country’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), will commence on Wednesday, followed by the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s legislature, on Thursday.The two major political gatherings are expected to deliberate and approve the full text of the 15th five-year plan, which will set the country’s development road map through 2030.Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), is scheduled to meet local delegates in a closed-door session on Tuesday, the China-morning-post" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="12558" data-entity-type="organization">South China Morning Post has learned.Xia Baolong is scheduled to meet local delegates in a closed-door session on Tuesday. Photo: HKMAOChief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will also travel to Beijing on Tuesday to attend the NPC’s opening meeting. He earlier said that Hong Kong would formulate its first five-year plan to align with the national one.