China’s No 3 official sets a conciliatory tone in brief address at airport as his three-day visit begins
STUART LAU, OWEN FUNG, CHRISTY LEUNG AND SHIRLEY ZHAO
UPDATED : Tuesday, 17 May, 2016, 2:36pm
National People's Congress Chairman Zhang Dejiang beside Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and shaking hands with Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor upon his arrival at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Felix Wong
Seeing, listening and speaking – with these three words, China’s third-ranking official Zhang Dejiang who touched down in Hong Kong late Tuesday morning summed up his agenda for his three-day visit to the city.
In a conciliatory set of remarks delivered on the tarmac upon his arrival on an Air China flight at 11.45 am, Zhang said he would listen to “all sectors of society” on “what recommendations and requirements they have” regarding the implementation of ‘one country, two systems’ and on the matter of Hongkongers running their city.
Zhang on the tarmac and flanked by mainland and local officials. Photo: Felix Wong
Accompanied by four mainland officials and local officials, Zhang said he would not only speak during the belt and road summit organised by the Hong Kong government and deliver a speech during a banquet on Wednesday, but would also “give speeches on other occasions”.
In attendance and the first to greet him was a beaming Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. Others who stood behind Zhang as he spoke were Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor and Finance Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, and in the same row was Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing.
Zhang stepped out of the aircraft before noon, followed by a welcoming anthem from government musicians. Smiling, he shook hands with local officials and received flowers from schoolchildren.
Zhang, head of a committee overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs and formerly party chief of Guangdong province, said he would see old and new friends in the city and learn about Hongkongers’ lives.
“The last time I came to Hong Kong was in 2004,” he said during his five-minute remarks. “Time flies. Twelve years passed so swiftly.”
He opened his remarks by conveying well wishes from President Xi Jinping to the people of Hong Kong. Zhang then noted he was aware of the high level of attention paid to his trip and made a light-hearted reference to the weather.
“The weather is very fine today,” he said. The weather is fine in both Beijing and Hong Kong.”
“Hong Kong and I, may I say, are bonded,” he continued. “All memories are vivid in my mind.”
Zhang briefly recalled his life in Guangdong province when he fostered closer ties with Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta cooperation project.
Zhang delivering his remarks at the airport. Photo: Felix Wong
“We scored victory in the fight against Sars,” he added, appearing to address recent online criticism of Guangdong’s handling of the severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis, which later spread to Hong Kong in 2003.
He ended his remarks by expressing optimism about his visit.
As the state leader arrived in the city, the heightened airport security directed at media covering the event raised eyebrows.
Security guards reportedly took away many journalists’ umbrellas for temporary keeping.
They also took away a 40 by 40cm yellow towel brought by one reporter meant to cover camera lens.
But reporters clad in yellow appeared to be permitted to proceed through security.
Umbrellas, especially yellow ones, were a symbol of the pro-democracy Occupy movement in 2014.
Meanwhile, members of pro-democracy group the League of Social Democrats put up a banner on a structure along North Lantau Highway, near the airport, that read: “End Chinese communist party dictatorship.”
The group posted a live video on its Facebook page.
A banner hoisted on North Lantau Highway near Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Sam Tsang
Around 12.40pm, the video showed several police surrounding league members and speaking with them.
An officer was seen heatedly warning them, including the league’s chairman Avery Ng Man-yuen, on their potential breach of the Road Traffic Ordinance for displaying the banner, which faced the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai construction site.
Ng was heard saying he had never heard about such a charge.
“We want to ask Zhang Dejiang not to hide and go back to Beijing,” Ng was heard telling a reporter at the scene. “If he’s afraid of people in Hong Kong, don’t come to Hong Kong.”
The officers arrested four league members, including Ng, and took them into police vans and drove away.
In Wan Chai, at 12.15pm, ahead of Zhang’s arrival at the Grand Hyatt, police asked all reporters outside the hotel to submit to security inspections before entering the designated press area.
This included a bag check as well as scanning individuals with a metal detector. A sniffer dog was also on standby.
Moments before Zhang arrived, at least two protesters attempted to get near the hotel via the Art Centre, but they were quickly prevented from doing so by officers.
The state leader arrived at the hotel along with a long fleet of vehicles, which consisted of over two dozen vehicles, at around 12.45pm.
A helicopter could be seen hovering near the hotel as the fleet pulled in.
Nearby, a group of about 20 supporters gathered with Chinese and Hong Kong flags in the demonstration zone at the Central Plaza – the view of which was completely blocked from the Grand Hyatt and convention centre.
Dressed in red, they called for support for One Belt, One Road, saying it was a blessing to the city.
Joining them in the area were representatives from theFederation of Women’s Centres. More than 50 women gathered at booths promoting occupational safety and health. Some sang and danced on stage.
There was also a modern China photo exhibition held by Hong Kong Island Federation in another demonstration zone outside Revenue Tower, located directly across the Grand Hyatt.
Zhang’s airport remarks
To all friends in Hong Kong and the media, greetings.
First of all, please would our friends in the media help convey President Xi Jinping’s warm regards and well wishes for the people of Hong Kong. I notice that my trip to Hong Kong has attracted wide attention.
The weather is nice today. The weather is very good in both Beijing and Hong Kong.
Hong Kong and I, may I say, are bonded. During my tenure in Guangdong province I worked with the Hong Kong government and other sectors on fostering Guangdong-Hong Kong cooperation as well as cooperation in the Pearl River Delta region.
We scored victory in the fight against Sars. All memories are vivid in my mind. The last time I came to Hong Kong was in 2004. Time flies. Twelve years passed so swiftly.
The objectives and details of my visit to Hong Kong this time can be summarised in three words.
First, seeing. I plan to see Hong Kong’s new changes after all these years, see old and new friends, and see the lives of Hong Kong residents.
Second, listening. I will listen to the chief executive and the SAR government regarding their work, and to all sectors of society about what recommendations and requirements they have about implementing the principles of ‘one country two systems’ and on Hongkongers administering their city and with a high degree of autonomy, as well as the implementation of the Basic Law, and the development of the nation and of Hong Kong.
Third, speaking. At the one belt one road summit organised by the Hong Kong government tomorrow I will give a keynote address. At the welcome banquet held by the HKSAR government tomorrow evening, I will deliver a formal speech. On other occasions, in other settings, I may continue to give some speeches.
In short, I come this time with the care of the central government and all Chinese people for the Hong Kong SAR and Hongkongers. I believe I can achieve my intended goals.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1946145/zhang-dejiang-says-hes-hong-kong-see-listen-and-speak
