Xia Baolong completes two-day inspection visit

Xia Baolong, the director of Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, visits Kwai Chung Container Terminal on the second day of his inspection visit in the city.

At around 11 am, Xia Baolong arrived at the first stop of his day two visit -- the Kwai Chung Container Terminal. Accompanied by Chief Executive John Lee, Xia inspected the COSCO-HIT Terminals to understand the development of Hong Kong's shipping industry. A representative of the joint venture says Xia is intrigued by the port industry. They say the terminal has been applying technology to help reduce manpower, including deploying six autonomous trucks to work on the site. The number is expected to be increased to 50.

After about an hour, the senior Beijing official left and headed to the Government House to meet with the Chief Executive. The meeting lasted about four hours, and Xia arrived at Shenzhen Bay Control Point at around 5 pm. The Chief Executive offered Xia a present and the two shook hands, marking the end of the two-day visit.

Speaking to the media, Lee says Xia provided guidance and valuable opinions for the administration during his inspection, and the director is pleased with the government's multiple policies, including light public housing and a university town within the Northern Metropolis. The CE says Xia described Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan as "directional," "strategic" and "practical," adding the director would require the government to formulate its Policy Address based on the targets set in the plan.

The Beijing official did not stay in Hong Kong after his inspection on Tuesday and returned to Shenzhen. He then arrived in Hong Kong via Huanggang Port this morning. On social media, Security Secretary Chris Tang says Xia examined the new Huanggang Port and listened to representatives presenting the latest development progress of the building, which is set to open in July.

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