China’s Xi tells Lee Hong Kong on ‘right track’

Bloomberg

Chinese President Xi Jinping has praised Hong Kong’s leader John Lee for reviving the local economy and safeguarding national security, while Premier Li Keqiang called for better coordination over the reopening of the city’s border with the mainland.
Xi told Lee the city is on the “right track” as the two met in Beijing, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
“Under your leadership, the new government demonstrated commitment, made contributions in steadfastly safeguarding national security and revived the vitality of the economy. You also responded to concerns of the public,” Xi said, according to the SCMP.
Meanwhile, Li urged officials to speed up coordination for a “gradual” return to normal people movement between the mainland and Hong Kong border during a meeting with Lee, state radio reported.
This is Lee’s first official visit to Beijing since he took office on July 1, where he briefed China’s state leaders on social, political and economic issues in the city. It’s being being closely watched for news of when the central government will reopen the border with Hong Kong. He was expected to return on Saturday and speak to the media about his trip, the SCMP reported.
The border between Hong Kong and mainland China has been effectively shut for almost three years. Currently visitors from Hong Kong are limited by a daily quota, while they also have to undergo five days of hotel quarantine.
Mainland visitors have to quarantine on their return. Most of Hong Kong’s border checkpoints have been closed since early 2020.
The ruling Communist Party is rapidly moving to resume normal economic activity as it dismantles the last vestiges of Covid Zero. China plans to cut quarantine requirements for overseas travelers in January, Bloomberg News reported.
Hong Kong could see an estimated 7.6% boost to its gross domestic product from China’s reopening, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc economists. The local economy is projected to have contracted this year for the third time in four years. The city hosted almost 44 million arrivals from mainland China in 2019.