Beijing delegation’s visit to Hong Kong much more than a briefing on economic development

At first glance, the high-profile visit by Beijing officials to Hong Kong this week appeared to be simply a series of meetings and forums to discuss China’s five-year grand plan, but analysts have said key messages were imparted during the four-day trip.

Not only was the central government keen to make known its impatience with the failure of local officials to push forward policies from Beijing’s perspective, the city’s administration and legislators were told they should act in concert with the central government and scrutinise relevant laws that benefit cross-border economic development under the “new political climate”.