On the afternoon of the Dec 18, President Xi Jinping met with John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), who is on a duty visit to Beijing. Xi heard a report from Lee on the current situation in Hong Kong and the work of the HKSAR government. Xi said that over the past year, Lee has led the HKSAR government with courage and responsibility, perfectly carried out its duties and firmly safeguarded national security. Lee's administration has restructured Hong Kong's District Council system, completed the District Council Ordinary Election, guided Hong Kong out of the pandemic with an overall recovery, maintained the city's unique status and advantages and promoted the city's development momentum. His administration has also made efforts to address the pressing issues faced by the people, consolidated the city's endeavor to restore order, and promoted the transition from stability to prosperity. The central authorities fully recognize the work of Lee and the HKSAR government, Xi said.

Xi emphasized that we are advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the new journey in the new era through a Chinese path to modernization. The central authorities will, as always, fully, faithfully and firmly implement the One Country, Two Systems policy, and fully uphold the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong". It will provide full support to the chief executive and the HKSAR government in leading all sectors of Hong Kong society to consolidate and boost Hong Kong's status as an international financial center, shipping center, and trade center by seizing the historical opportunities brought by national development, so as to promote Hong Kong's development. The vitality and superiority of the One Country, Two Systems policy will continue to manifest, and we are confident in the bright future of Hong Kong.

Li Qiang, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Shi Taifeng, Chen Wenqing, Xia Baolong, and others were present at the meeting.