Beijing isn't interested in rubber-stamp politics that sit back and watch. When Xia Baolong met 88 Hong Kong lawmakers inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, his core message was sharp and direct. He wants members of the Legislative Council to pull their own weight and actively assist Chief Executive John Lee in running the city.
The Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office made that abundantly clear during an unprecedented week-long national affairs study tour for local legislators. Sitting alongside key mainland officials including Liaison Office Director Zhou Ji, Xia outlined what top leadership expects from the city's political elite. It isn't enough to simply pass bills without friction. Beijing wants a legislative body that drives policy, tackles deep economic issues, and delivers visible results to residents.
The Push for Active Governance Behind Closed Doors
Hong Kong operates under an executive-led system, but that system only works when lawmakers actively back the executive branch. During the seminar in the Hong Kong Room of the Great Hall of the People, Xia pressed legislators to step up their learning and strengthen internal unity. He stressed that lawmakers must assume a far greater role in helping government leadership administer the city according to the law.
That means taking initiative. Beijing wants LegCo members to identify pressing public concerns early rather than waiting for public frustration to build up. When economic pressures hit local retail or housing shortages strain working families, lawmakers are expected to bring practical policy solutions to the table.
The expectation goes far beyond political loyalty. Beijing views the current post-reform legislature as a test case for whether patriot-only governance can genuinely improve people's everyday lives. If lawmakers act as passive bystanders, the system fails its main purpose.
Translating National Plans Into Local Action
A major focus of the discussions centered on aligning Hong Kong's internal development with China's 15th Five-Year Plan. Hong Kong cannot afford to sit on the sidelines as mainland megacities push ahead in technology, logistics, and finance.
Lawmakers need to bridge that gap. That involves translating high-level national strategies into concrete local policies. Whether it's expediting Northern Metropolis infrastructure projects, slashing regulatory red tape for cross-border trade, or expanding the city's role as an offshore renminbi hub, Beijing expects LegCo members to draft workable frameworks.
To succeed here, lawmakers have to change how they approach public office. Here are the core priorities Xia highlighted during the Beijing meeting:
- Deepen understanding of national policy and economic strategies through ongoing training and mainland field studies.
- Work directly alongside government bureaus to solve bottlenecks in land supply and housing construction.
- Maintain constant, direct touch with local communities to gauge economic anxiety and public sentiment.
- Project a respectable public image that builds trust among citizens and international observers alike.
Why Public Accountability Matters More Than Ever
People in Hong Kong are watching closely. So is Beijing. With political opposition largely removed from the legislature, lawmakers no longer have political paralysis to blame for slow progress. Every delay on major public works or social policy falls squarely on the current legislative body.
Xia’s remarks serve as a direct reminder that accountability has actually increased, not decreased. When lawmakers take office under the revamped electoral system, their performance gets judged entirely on outcomes. Did housing wait times decrease? Is the business environment attracting capital? Are young professionals finding good jobs?
If the answer to those questions is no, lawmakers haven't done their jobs.
Next Steps for Hong Kong Lawmakers
To deliver on these central expectations, Hong Kong legislators need to execute a clear action plan immediately upon returning from Beijing:
- Form specialized task forces within LegCo to target specific friction points in the Northern Metropolis development.
- Establish regular policy briefing channels with government secretaries to review upcoming legislation before it hits the floor.
- Conduct structured neighborhood outreach programs each month to gather unfiltered feedback on livelihood grievances.
- Draft explicit proposal documents aligning Hong Kong's key growth sectors with the upcoming targets of the 15th Five-Year Plan.
