Xia Baolong arrived in Macau on May 8 “with the main objective of assessing the implementation of the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s speech,” said Lou Shenghua, a professor of Social Sciences at the Macau Polytechnic University.
Last December, the Chinese President visited Macau for the 25th anniversary of the handover of sovereignty and outlined the “four hopes” for Macau: economic diversification, integration with the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, greater international projection, and consolidation of the current political model. In this context, Xia’s visit was also to “inspect the governance of the new Executive since taking office,” Lou told PLATAFORMA.
The evaluation—at least from an economic standpoint—was positive. According to Kevin Ho, a deputy to the National People’s Congress, “Xia Baolong showed full confidence in our economic recovery and GDP growth this year,” he told TDM.
His agenda included meetings with top officials from Macau’s Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, as well as members of the National People’s Congress and representatives from the business sector and civil society. He also took the opportunity to meet with former Chief Executives Ho Iat Seng, Chui Sai On, and Edmund Ho.
One of the main focus areas was the development of the Guangdong–Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Xia called on the local Government to take responsibility, stating that “we must treat the construction of the Cooperation Zone as a matter of Macau.” The Government recently announced the creation of a working group led by the Chief Executive dedicated to implementing the joint plan. Nevertheless, Sam Hou Fai admitted during the visit’s press conference that the city’s dependence on gaming “will not end anytime soon,” which may affect the pace of progress toward the goals set for 2035.
Warnings on Loyalty
In a statement from the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office following Xia’s meeting with business representatives, he emphasized that “capital knows no borders, but entrepreneurs have a Motherland,” adding that “no business can thrive without the support of its nation.”
Amid geopolitical tensions with the United States—whose actions he referred to as “hegemonic”—he warned that those who “lack backbone and beg for mercy,” or “only pursue profit while disregarding national interests, will be despised by the Chinese people.”
Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip said that Xia Baolong called for local entrepreneurs to unite “against the rise of unilateralism and U.S. trade protectionism.” He also cited Xia’s position: “There is no way out if we make compromises and concessions.”
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Lau Siu-kai, a consultant with the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, stated that Xia’s call to defend national interests shows that Beijing still sees relations with the U.S. as “serious,” despite the recent bilateral agreement to reduce tariffs for a 90-day period while negotiating further steps to ease tensions.
Even in a scenario of renewed tensions, the Chief Executive assured that the three U.S.-funded casino operators, whose contracts are valid until 2033, will not be harmed “as long as they conduct their business in an orderly and healthy manner, and in accordance with the law.”
Lau Siu-kai also noted that Xia’s message was more directly aimed at Hong Kong, especially after the recent sale of strategic ports in the Panama Canal to the U.S. by CK Hutchison Holdings. “He’s asking \[companies] not to kneel before the U.S. and to always turn to their country when facing attacks and repression,” he told the Hong Kong paper.
Despite these warnings, Xia also made a point of emphasizing the importance of attracting international talent, continuing to open up Macau, and “embracing the world”—especially through expanding international business networks and bilateral trade, while promoting the political principle of “One Country, Two Systems.”
The Chief Executive addressed this topic, saying that “we must welcome foreign friends to invest and realize their dreams in Macau,” with special interest in the advanced technology sector. “As long as they support economic diversification, they are always welcome,” he added, encouraging local entrepreneurs to explore foreign markets, particularly those in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries.
On the political side, Xia Baolong warned that the separation of Executive and Legislative powers does not follow Western principles, and that, as stipulated in the Basic Law, “the Executive should hold predominance,” advocating for stronger cooperation and “mutual respect” among governing bodies.
“Patriotic and pro-Macau forces will become more united, the principle of ‘patriots governing Macau’ will grow stronger, and the Central Government’s comprehensive governance over Macau will merge with the high degree of autonomy of the Special Administrative Region,” said Lou Shenghua.
