Beijing urges Hong Kong to bring in more governance talent with integrity, competence

Beijing’s office overseeing Hong Kong affairs has called on the city to improve its systems for nurturing, appointing and managing governance talent as a way to bring in more personnel with integrity and competence into the governing team.

In a commentary, the theoretical study group of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) stressed that the city would only enjoy more room to open up and develop when national security was firmly safeguarded. It urged greater attention to security in areas including finance, shipping, trade and the protection of overseas interests.

The article – “Uphold the correct course of ‘one country, two systems’, advance Hong Kong and Macau towards the great journey of national rejuvenation” – was published in the state-run People’s Daily on Monday, four days after the government released the independent committee report on last year’s deadly Tai Po fire. The day before the report was published, housing chief Winnie Ho Wing-yin resigned, assuming political accountability.

The article stressed that selecting governance personnel based on both integrity and competence was the key to implementing the “patriots administering Hong Kong” principle, citing President Xi Jinping’s speech at the 2022 ceremony that celebrated the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty.

“Integrity centres on a firm patriotic stance and loyalty to the country and to the [Hong Kong] Special Administrative Region,” the article said.

“Competence centres on enhancing governance, possessing thinking in the bigger picture and an international outlook, and being adept at resolving deep-rooted conflicts and practical problems in economic and social development and people’s livelihoods.”

It added that the city should uphold executive-led governance, improve mechanisms for training, selection, appointment and management, and draw more individuals of integrity and competence into the administration so that reforms could be advanced.

Hong Kong will hold its chief executive election in March 2027. The current government term ends in June. City leader John Lee Ka-chiu said earlier that he was focused on completing the final year of his term and shrugged off questions about seeking re-election.

The HKMAO’s commentary also called for enhanced governance and better prevention of major security incidents to ensure social stability.

It reiterated Beijing’s support for resolving livelihood challenges such as housing, education, employment and elderly care.

Last month, the former HKMAO deputy director and president of the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, Deng Zhonghua, said Hong Kong must adopt a reform-oriented approach under its first five-year plan to dismantle barriers created by vested interests and revive growth momentum.

He also called for improved mechanisms for sharing the fruits of growth in housing, healthcare, elderly care and education.

In a complex geopolitical environment marked by rising unilateralism, protectionism, external containment and the risk of decoupling, the HKMAO underlined that risks to national security in Hong Kong persisted and must not be overlooked during development.

It emphasised that security was a prerequisite for development and an essential safeguard for the city’s free and open environment, as it helped stabilise market confidence and expand international connections.

“[We must] maintain a high-pressure posture against anti-China disrupters that seek to destabilise Hong Kong and Macau, and attach importance to security in non-traditional fields such as finance, shipping, trade and the protection of overseas interests,” the article said.

“[We should] continuously improve the legal systems and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security, further strengthen institutional mechanisms against sanctions, interference and long-arm jurisdiction.”

It added that escalating geopolitical tensions underscored the strategic value of Hong Kong’s international connections in helping mainland China expand its development space and participation in global economic governance and cooperation.