Xia Baolong to kick off 5-day visit to Hong Kong on Wednesday: John Lee

SCMP | June 16, 2025, 11:27 p.m. | Original

City leader John Lee (right) has confirmed that Xia Baolong (second from right) will visit Hong Kong for five days, beginning on Wednesday. Photo: Elson Li

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Beijing’s point man overseeing Hong Kong affairs will begin a five-day visit to the city on Wednesday to inspect its development and attend a national security forum, the chief executive has said, confirming the Post’s report.

According to two sources, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, is expected to meet university heads and senior educators on Thursday.

“They will discuss how Hong Kong can play a bigger role in China’s technological independence, as well as nurturing and retaining global talent,” one insider said.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said that Xia would attend the key forum, organised by the Department of Justice to mark the fifth anniversary of the imposition of the national security law, on Saturday. He will depart the city on Sunday.

“The main purpose of Xia’s visit is to attend the forum on national security law,” Lee said before his weekly meeting with the Executive Council , the city’s key decision-making body, on Tuesday.

“This shows that he attaches great importance to the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong.

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