National People's Congress chairman meets heads of local disciplined services
JOYCE NGjoyce.ng@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 10 October, 2015, 12:01am
UPDATED : Saturday, 10 October, 2015, 12:07am
Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congres, gestures with Hong Kong Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua
The head of the national legislature has told the Hong Kong disciplined services they should "strictly enforce the law".
Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress, delivered the message to a delegation headed by the city's five disciplined services as they met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday.
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Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok, speaking after the closed-door meeting, said: "[Zhang] encouraged our forces to strictly enforce the law.
"He also stated that the central government will firmly support the chief executive and Hong Kong's administration to rule in accordance with the law."
Lai quoted Zhang as saying development leading to prosperity was the "root" of the city, while "a stable rule of law" was its "foundation", and that Beijing would continue to support the city's economic development.
The "one belt, one road" development plan - Beijing's scheme to boost trade and infrastructure with countries from Asia to Africa - was also mentioned, Lai said.
Zhang reportedly told the 120-strong delegation that they should be "staunch defenders" of "one country, two systems" and the rule of law.
He was said to have praised the police force for exercising considerable restraint in response to the city's 79-day Occupy protests and mass sit-ins.
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The delegation comprised representatives of the police force, Immigration Department, Customs and Excise Department, Fire Services Department and Correctional Services Department. The department heads were each present.
Lai said Zhang invited all the department heads to brief him on their respective latest efforts, noting: "The chairman was very interested in the work of each disciplined force."
But the discussions did not touch on cross-border parallel trading or tensions between Hongkongers and mainlanders arising from the practice, Lai said.
The high-profile meeting included Wang Guangya , director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, and Zhang Xiaoming , director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong.
After the meeting, the representatives attended a lunch with Wang at a hotel. The delegation members also met the Ministry of Public Security. They are scheduled to return today.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1865907/strictly-enforce-law-beijing-legislative-chief-tells-hong
