Hong Kong Senior Civil Servants Met by Xia Baolong in Beijing During National Affairs Study Programme

Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, met on the afternoon of April 21 with a delegation of Hong Kong’s Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments. The group is participating in a national affairs study programme led by Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan.

Yeung expressed gratitude to Xia for his full recognition of the work of Hong Kong civil servants and for his encouragement and expectations toward the senior officials. She emphasised that civil servants form the backbone of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s governance, with Permanent Secretaries — the highest-ranking members of the civil service — and Heads of Departments playing crucial roles in policy implementation.

“We will do our utmost, work together with one heart and mind, fulfil our duties, and fully support the Chief Executive in governing Hong Kong,” Yeung said. “We will steadfastly uphold executive-led governance, maintain the bottom line of security and development, deliver concrete results for the public, and contribute to a new chapter in Hong Kong’s high-quality development.”

Yeung added that the National 15th Five-Year Plan Outline serves as the blueprint and programme of action for the country’s economic and social development over the next five years. It provides strong support for Hong Kong in consolidating and enhancing its competitive advantages across multiple key areas. Hong Kong is currently accelerating the preparation of its first five-year plan, which will act as a common action guide for the city.

She noted that the civil service, particularly the Permanent Secretaries, will — under the leadership of the Chief Executive — proactively align their work with the national 15th Five-Year Plan. They will coordinate development efforts across various sectors, lay a stronger foundation for Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability, and better integrate into and serve the overall development of the country.

The study programme for Hong Kong’s Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments continued on April 22 at the National Academy of Governance in Beijing. In the morning, Chen Wenxin, Director of the American Institute at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, briefed the participants on the international situation and China-US relations.

The delegation is scheduled to depart for Chengdu in the afternoon for further study and observation visits. The programme is expected to conclude with the group’s return to Hong Kong on April 25.

This visit marks the second such national affairs study programme for this senior level of Hong Kong civil servants since 2023, aimed at deepening their understanding of national policies and strategies to support more effective governance and alignment with national development goals.