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Planned election and national security measures in Macao, including revision of its national security law, are aimed at preventing any political crisis like that in nearby Hong Kong from taking root in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, experts say. https://www.voanews.com/a/macao-measures-seen-as-attempt-to-head-off-hong-kong-like-crisis/6429557.html
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3160875/tale-2-cities-did-xi-jinping-shower-more-praise-macaus
State leaders appeared relatively
restrained in lauding Carrie Lam and the Hong Kong administration’s work on
Wednesday, observers say
But in his meeting with Macau leader Ho
Iat-seng, Xi appeared more generous with his compliments, saying city had
‘tamed’ Covid-19 and put various systems in place
Tony Cheung - Published: 9:40pm, 23 Dec,
2021
Praise that Chinese President Xi
Jinping extended to Hong Kong’s leader was carefully couched to avoid
being misinterpreted as giving hints on the coming chief executive race, and
was instead intended to underline Beijing’s authority over the city, analysts
said on Thursday.
Observers also said that compared with the
positive remarks made in meetings with Macau’s chief executive, state leaders
appeared relatively restrained in lauding Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and the
Hong Kong administration’s work on Wednesday.
Xi, speaking at his first public
face-to-face meeting since February last year with a top official from outside
mainland China, was positive about Lam’s work over the past year culminating in
Sunday’s first Legislative Council election, after Beijing’s revamp of the
electoral system. He also said the overhaul had enabled Hongkongers to exercise
their democratic rights and be “masters of their own home”.
“The [city] has achieved notable results in
its Covid-19 response,
steadily recovered its economy and maintained social stability,” Xi said.
“Lam has led the [Hong Kong] government in
making systematic changes and improvements to Hong Kong’s electoral system in
accordance with relevant decisions of the National People’s Congress [NPC] and
relevant legislation of the NPC Standing Committee … The central authorities
fully acknowledge the work of Lam and the [city’s] government.”
But in his meeting with Macau leader Ho
Iat-seng, Xi appeared more generous with his compliments.
“In the past year, Macau has effectively
tamed Covid-19, and maintained a normal flow of people with the mainland … The
groups facing difficulties and small enterprises received help, and the systems
and mechanisms safeguarding national security have been improved continually,”
Xi said.
Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of semi-official
think tank the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said the
differences highlighted how Beijing officials had been more satisfied with the
Macau government than its Hong Kong counterpart.
“It’s not just about the pandemic. Macau has
also been doing better in protecting national security and public order,” Lau
said.
Professor Song Sio-chong, of Shenzhen
University’s Centre for Basic Laws of Hong Kong and Macau, said that even
though the two cities were vastly different in size, population and political
background, Xi’s remarks showed the casino hub’s government deserved credit.
“Macau’s economic foundation was weaker
than Hong Kong’s, and it managed to tackle problems such as the coronavirus,”
he said.
But Eilo Yu Wing-yat, a political scientist
at the University of Macau, said rather than focusing on the differences in wording,
he was more interested in how Xi highlighted the Hengqin economic development
plan in his meeting with Ho.
In September, Beijing announced a new
cooperation zone for Macau with neighbouring Hengqin and urged the casino hub
to develop new industries, such as finance and technology, in the new zone.
Yu said: “This shows the central government
will support Macau in developing finance and other new sectors … so the city
will not just rely on gambling.”
Song noted that Xi’s praise for Lam this
time was more general than in the past two years.
After months of social unrest in Hong Kong,
Xi told Lam in December 2019 that in the face of various difficulties and
pressure, she had stood firm on the bottom line of “one country, two systems”,
the principle under which the city is governed.
As Lam reported on her work in January this
year, the president also praised her for “being firm and responsible on key
issues relating to national security, and showing her patriotic sentiments”.
But on Wednesday, the compliments were not
personal, and focused on how Lam led the government in achieving results as a
whole.
Song argued that the changes in rhetoric
indicated Beijing had reservations about Lam’s handling of social problems such
as housing.
“In his meeting with Lam on Wednesday
morning, Premier Li Keqiang told Lam he hoped the city’s government would make
efforts in improving people’s livelihoods … But Xi didn’t mention it, this
indicated Beijing’s dissatisfaction,” he argued.
But veteran China watcher Johnny Lau
Yui-siu said the mention of livelihood issues did not indicate dissatisfaction.
“Li’s remarks were in line with Beijing’s
stance that Hong Kong can spend more energy on social problems, with the
opposition shut out from politics.”
Lau Siu-kai said Xi’s speech was carefully
phrased to avoid giving any hint, positive or negative, about Lam’s chances in
the next leadership race in March.
“Xi did not want to give any suggestion
about the future poll, and what his expectations are. Beijing needs to further
assess the international situation before making decisions about the chief
executive race early next year,” he said.
Lau said Xi’s emphasis was on how the
Communist Party and Beijing remained committed to one country, two systems, and
how the electoral system revamp had set the right direction for Hong Kong.
Lam also confirmed she had dinner with Xi
on Wednesday. Those present included her husband, Lam Siu-por, as well as Macau
leader Ho and his wife.
The last time that Xi hosted a dinner for
the two chief executives and their spouses was in 2017, when the president, Lam
and her husband dined with then Macau leader Fernando Chui Sai-on and his wife.
In 2014, Xi also hosted a dinner for then
Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying, Chui and their spouses.
In December 2016, when Lam’s predecessor,
Leung, visited Beijing, Xi heaped praise on him, lauding Leung for “making
long-term plans, and laying down foundations for ‘one country, two systems’ and
Hong Kong’s prosperity” since taking office in 2012.
But Song said Leung’s trip could not be compared
directly with Lam’s latest visit. He noted Leung’s trip took place two weeks
after he announced he would not be seeking re-election the following year.
“At that time, Beijing was concerned
whether Leung could defeat then finance chief John Tsang Chun-wah in the race.
The central government would rather support Lam,” he recalled.
Tony Cheung became a political journalist
in 2007. He joined the Post in 2012, and covers Hong Kong-mainland relations,
public policies and political issues. Prior to joining the Post, he was a
reporter at Asia Television in Hong Kong, Beijing and Guangzhou. He holds a
Master of Laws in Human Rights degree from the University of Hong Kong.
