Chinese President Xi Jinping praised Hong Kong’s next leader for defending national security and upholding stability at their first meeting since John Lee was selected as chief executive earlier this month.
The leader of the world’s second largest economy told Lee that the central government had “full confidence” in him on Monday afternoon, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Xi also stressed China’s commitment to the “one country, two systems” principle and said the city’s new electoral process revamped by Beijing was “to be treasured and upheld in the long term.”
Lee’s meeting with Xi was routine. It’s common practice for the incoming chief executive to visit Beijing to be formally appointed to the chief executive role, in line with the requirements of the Basic Law — the mini-constitution that governs Hong Kong.
