Editor's note: Grenville Cross is a senior counsel and law professor, and was previously director of public prosecutions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Between December 21-24, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, conducted his maiden duty visit to Beijing. He briefed state leaders on economic, social and political developments in the city after his appointment.  

Since Lee was sworn into office by President Xi Jinping on July 1, he has operated from a secure base. Once national security was strengthened in 2020, and political reform was implemented in 2021, good governance was prioritized, and this was guaranteed through the "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle. This has facilitated Lee's "result-oriented" approach, which concentrates on developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods.

Whereas political saboteurs and foreign forces combined in 2019-2020 in the hope of wrecking the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, they were thwarted, and the policy has been vindicated. After taking office, Lee unveiled bold plans designed to provide Hong Kong with a brighter future. They focus on greater integration with the Chinese mainland, enhancing the city's competitiveness in fintech and boosting its innovation and technology sector, attracting foreign investment and talent, and providing more housing, primarily through constructing 30,000 "light" public housing units within five years.

Although his agenda is ambitious, Lee is, as the last six months have shown, able to rely for its implementation on a Legislative Council that is devoted to the public good. It wants Hong Kong to take full advantage of national development, not least through closer integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In a Council purged of anti-China forces and committed to supporting national resurgence, the government's legislative proposals are enjoying a fair wind, and this means Lee can make real progress with his initiatives.   

After Xi confirmed on July 1 that Hong Kong's common law legal system would endure after 2047, it greatly strengthened Lee's hand. With the city's long-term legal arrangements now secure, investors and others need have no concerns over what the future holds. This has been reassuring for everyone who values Hong Kong, and wishes to benefit from its unique connectivity and huge potential.

In November, therefore, when the city hosted the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit, the Hong Kong Legal Week 2022, and the 18th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific, there was a heavy international involvement. The world was able to see for itself that Hong Kong was not only back in business, but going from strength to strength.  

Lee will have explained all these developments to his hosts, and he will also have discussed the re-opening of Hong Kong's border with the Chinese mainland. He undoubtedly described what he has done to contain COVID-19, as well as his strategy for opening up the city. Before his visit, he said there was a "popular opinion" that quarantine-free travel between the two places should resume, and  he would "definitely reflect" this while in Beijing. As he was "extremely willing to cooperate" with Beijing's anti-epidemic controls, with a view to developing new travel arrangements, his message will have conveyed exactly the sort of positivity the state leaders would have hoped to hear.

By any yardstick, Lee has made solid progress since July 1, and can point to tangible results. When he met Premier Li Keqiang on December 22, Li praised his achievements, saying he had been "leading the government in actively responding to society's concerns, making efforts to reboot economic vibrancy." He added that "the central government fully acknowledges your work," and confirmed that there would be continuing support to Lee's government in implementing the "One Country, Two Systems"  policy.

When President Xi Jinping met Lee on December 23, he was no less effusive. He commended Lee for having led his government "to be courageous and pragmatic," for resolutely safeguarding national security, for vigorously reviving the economy, for actively responding to people's concerns, and for showing "a new atmosphere of patriots administering Hong Kong."

Once again, Xi emphasized that the "One Country, Two Systems" policy was the key to Hong Kong's future success. The central government fully supported Lee's governance, and this included his efforts to promote international cooperation and integration into national development. On its "new journey," Hong Kong would have "great potential and shine brightly," which must have been music to Lee's ears.

Quite clearly, therefore, Lee has got off to an excellent start, and his work is appreciated by the national leadership. This, however, is only the beginning, and many challenges lie ahead. His direction of travel, nonetheless, is obviously the right one, and, with national support, there is every reason to suppose he will achieve the objectives he has set for himself in this 5-year term of office.

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