In the face of various difficulties and pressures, you have stuck to the bottom line of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, governed in accordance with the law, scrupulously fulfilled your duty, and done a great deal of hard work.

CHIEF Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China. XINHUA

BEIJING, China (Global Times) — President Xi Jinping met Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who is on a duty visit to Beijing, on Monday and reaffirmed the determination to implement the “one country, two systems” principle and oppose foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs, while saying that Hong Kong faced the most severe and complicated situation this year since the 1997 return.

Xi made the remarks in his meeting with Lam at Yingtai within the Zhongnanhai compound Monday afternoon. Xi heard a report from Lam on Hong Kong’s current situation and the HKSAR government’s work, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Experts noted that the central government is aware of the severity of the situation and will continue to provide assistance and support to the HKSAR government and the police to restore public order. As violence subsides, the main task for Hong Kong next year would be to rebuild its society and economy from the damage of turmoil, as well as push for integration with the mainland.

As the election of the Legislative Council (LegCo) will take place next year, experts also noted that to make sure the city’s democracy and politics stay on the right track is also an important task.

Xi said 2019 has been the most grim and complex year for Hong Kong since it returned to the motherland.

“In the face of various difficulties and pressures, you have stuck to the bottom line of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, governed in accordance with the law, scrupulously fulfilled your duty, and done a great deal of hard work,” Xi told Lam.

Premier Li Keqiang met with Lam on Monday morning, saying that the turmoil has damaged Hong Kong society in many aspects, and that the central government will continue its support according to law, Hong Kong-based Ta Kung Pao reported.

Xi approved Lam’s work of leading the SAR government to positively respond to social concerns, carry out a series of measures to assist enterprises and the public, and adopt a serious attitude in solving deep-seated social contradictions and problems.

Xi stressed that he had made clear the stance and attitude of the central government on Hong Kong’s situation at the 11th BRICS summit in Brazil on 14 November.

“We have unswerving determination to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests, implement the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and oppose any external force interfering in Hong Kong affairs,” Xi said.

“We will continue to firmly support you in leading the SAR government to govern in accordance with the law, firmly support the Hong Kong police in strictly enforcing the law, firmly support all people who love China and Hong Kong, and hope Hong Kong people from all walks of life will unite and work together to bring Hong Kong’s development back on track,” Xi told Lam.

The last meeting between Xi and Lam was in early November in Shanghai during the second China International Import Expo. During the meeting, Xi voiced the central government’s high degree of trust in Lam and full acknowledgement of her and her governance team’s work.

Lam said at a press conference at the Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing after the meeting with Xi on Monday that she appreciates the acknowledgements from President Xi and Premier Li on the work of the HKSAR government during the tough time and also said the report this year is very different from the past, as Hong Kong is still experiencing the most severe and complicated situation since 1997.