By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-10-31 00:46:29 | Updated at 2024-10-31 03:36:08
3 hours ago
Meetings between Beijing’s top official in charge of Hong Kong affairs and two major British companies reflect the nation’s commitment to reinforcing the city’s status as an international finance centre and also serve as a warning to the US, business and political experts have said.
They voiced their opinion on the significance of the meetings after Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), welcomed a delegation from multinational Jardine Matheson on Monday, nine days after receiving HSBC group chairman Mark Tucker in Beijing. Both companies have had their roots in Hong Kong for more than a century.
“The meetings have sent out a clear message of Beijing’s strong commitment to sustain and promote Hong Kong’s status as an international finance centre, despite the series of attacks from the United States in recent years,” said Li Cheng, a political-science professor from the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
Xia made similar comments in both meetings, praising the companies for their long-term support of Hong Kong and urging them to actively participate in the country’s high-quality development and help enhance global understanding of the city.
He also reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to the “one country, two systems” governing principle when highlighting Hong Kong’s unique place in the country’s overall development.
Li, the founding director of HKU’s Centre on Contemporary China and the World, also noted the meetings could be seen as part of Beijing’s countermeasures amid escalating Sino-US tensions in recent years.
