Straight Talk's Eugene Chan (left) interviews Hong Kong’s NPC deputy Dr Kennedy Wong on the Straight Talk show on TVB, March 21, 20223. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Dr Kennedy Wong, a Deputy to the National People's Congress, is on the show this week.

Wong talks about the importance of participation by the 36 members at the annual meeting in Beijing and gives us an inside look at the work of NPC deputies. He's also highlighted the importance of the HKSAR government working more closely with other provincial and municipal governments, and participating more actively in the central government’s grand plans going forward.

Check out the full transcript of TVB’s Straight Talk host Dr Eugene Chan’s interview with Dr Kennedy Wong.

Chan: Good evening! This is Eugene Chan on Straight Talk. Our guest this evening is Dr Kennedy Wong, Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress. Dr Wong is also a member of both the Legislative Council and the Election Committee. He is a lawyer by profession, and is the president of the China Law Society's Hong Kong Council Members Association. This evening, we are going to talk about the implications of the two sessions in Beijing for Hong Kong people. Welcome, Kennedy!

Wong: Thank you, Eugene.

Chan: Kennedy, we must congratulate you on your successful recent election to be the Hong Kong deputy of the National People's Congress.

Wong: Yes. Thank you. 

Chan: And I believe you have also just returned from Beijing attending the two sessions. And this must be your fifth time attending the two sessions previously as a CPPCC member, but the first time as the NPC deputy.

Wong: Yes, indeed. 

Chan: I hesitated because not very often, people of your age have already been there for 20 years. So, it has been a great achievement. So, how is it different that you're attending as a deputy of the NPC as compared to a CPPCC member?

Wong: Thank you, Eugene. I think under our Chinese constitution, the NPC, which is our National People's Congress, has the power to legislate, has the power to elect very senior State officials. And we have actually also power to make proposals to ministries. So, and also, you know, there are more NPC members than CPPCC members. As far as I remember, there are 2,977 NPC delegates.

Chan: Close to 3,000.

Wong: And then for CPPCC members, they are about 2,200. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has 36 delegates to the National People's Congress. And I am one of them. I'm very honored.  Also understand that there's a lot of hard work. And throughout my 10 days in Beijing, for the NPC, actually we worked day and night I assure you, and also there's no weekend, no break. And attendance rate actually has been very high for everybody. I remember one statistics: of 2,977 delegates, when it came to sort of voting for our president say you know, 2,952 delegates voted for election. 

Chan: Yes a very high election rate.

Wong: It's a very high attendance rate as well as very high rate of election, you know, for such a senior body in China.

Chan: Right, Kennedy, you were there for the previous term, especially when COVID was around. I mean, how it was different this time. You told me that you still had to attend the CPPCC meeting in the last term in Beijing, but you had to attend earlier to be isolated, and test every day. Was the same practice still pursued for this session?

Wong: Well, this time, you know, for the safety of everybody. We had PCR test almost on a daily basis. And I think fortunately, as far as I understand no delegate from Hong Kong caught COVID or actually influenza, etc. And that is why I think for the safety of all the delegates and to ensure that, you know, the two sessions run smoothly, I will say that the PCR tests on a daily basis was necessary.

Chan: Right. Do you still have to wear masks during meetings?

Wong: Well, I think you probably have seen some extracts on TV. The delegates we had to wear a mask during the full session. But, you know, for the small group sessions, so … there was a bit of leeway.

Dr Kennedy Wong, Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, attends the Straight Talk show on TVB, March 21, 2023. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Chan: Right. I see. I mean, since you mentioned television, we can… as viewers from Hong Kong, we only watch what's happening on the television and all those images. What actually happens during the 10 days you mentioned in Beijing? I mean, you can't possibly be at the hall for 10 days. Can you give us some behind the scenes shots for the viewers? What exactly do you do? What time do you start? And where do you eat etc.?

Wong: Yes, normally, our day starts at 9 am. And the morning session would end by 11:30 am. The afternoon session starts at 3 pm and ends before 5:30 pm. As far as I remember, throughout those 10 days, we went to the Great Hall of the People about five times, three times would be for election, you know, of various senior officials, including our president, vice president, premier, vice premier, ministers, and also People's Bank of China's head and so on.

Chan: So, what are the… do you still have to work at… your extended lunchtime? And after work, do you have anything in particular to do?

Wong: Well, actually, there's a lot of reading to do, Eugene because we were given a lot of papers, for example, the government work report, and also all the figures, all the income and expenditure of our government for the past year, and so on, so forth. So, there's a lot of reading. And also, those documents, you know, cannot be sort of taken out of our sort of compound. So, basically, it's a lot of reading. And then we need to also form subgroups. You know, the Hong Kong delegation, we only have 36 delegates. So, we are a subgroup ourselves. And almost every day, we have to gather to discuss, and for some of these subgroup meetings, we have ministers, we have representatives from different ministries and commissions also attending. So, they will listen to our view. And actually, one area that I find, you know, NPC is really quite different from CPPCC is really the speed of response from these ministries. Before NPC closed, I already received three written responses, you know, from the PBOC, the People's Bank of China, from our Supreme Court, and also the state prosecutor, all on my proposals and suggestions and on my comments during the subgroup meetings, so they are very responsive.

Chan: Which is very different to what your past experiences are?

Wong: Normally, for CPPCC motions, we will of course get a reply but that would be probably some months later. 

Chan: Right. Another rumor says… we sort of read in the newspaper that all the deputies are confined to the hotel for the 10 days. I mean, is that true?

Wong: It's a kind of closed loop arrangement. So, it's true that we were advised not to go out but …

Chan: Is it more the purpose for the COVID measure or more or less they want you to be…? 

Wong: I think it's both for COVID and because Beijing, during those days also had influenza A spreading quite rapidly. So, we all agreed that we should concentrate.

Chan: Right? You have already mentioned some of the roles and jobs that the NPC will do. I mean, you also being a legislator in Hong Kong Legislative Council, they're both sort of law forming parties. I mean, how do you compare the Legislative Council to NPC. Of course I mean, they are of different level but of course in terms of workwise, how will you compare them?

Wong: Well, I think one term of the NPC lasts for five years, in Hong Kong our Legislative Council, you know runs for four years, and then we have to run for re-election. And for NPC because we look at the whole country 1.4 billion people. So, I think perspective is a lot wider. And also, we need to think from a lot more different angles. Really, we have briefing on what's happening globally, and also domestically. So, we get to read a lot of papers. And then I will say that it has really deepened my understanding of the whole country.

Chan: Right. Kennedy, you also mentioned earlier that we have 36 deputies, and I know out of the 36 we have 12 of them are actually legislative councilors.

Wong: Yes. 

Chan: So, do you see them there, I mean, there … would their interest be aligned, or would it be compatible?

Wong: Well, I think so. Because these days already. There's a consensus that NPC and CPPCC sessions when we're ongoing for the two weeks, then you know, there would be no council meeting of our legislature here in Hong Kong, but there would probably be some panel meetings. I think it's quite important for Hong Kong, including Hong Kong legislators to understand what's happening in the whole of China. So I think, you know, Hong Kong really depends very much on how well the whole country does.

Chan: Right. 

Wong: If China develops well, Hong Kong will certainly benefit. So, I think the economic integration is undergoing.  And also, the (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao) Greater Bay Area presents a lot of opportunities for Hong Kong.

Chan: Right, Kennedy, when you become a deputy to the NPC. I mean, you have to run through an election, and you do have your election pledges, I'm going to ask you in public, how are you going to fulfil your pledges to your constituents?

Wong: Well, I think I listed out four main areas, one is national security, I think, that has been handled quite well by our current administration. And then the second area is how much more Hong Kong can do to help with peaceful unification with Taiwan. And also, the third area is, the rule of law, because I'm a lawyer myself. And then the fourth area is digital economy. Now, how well, Hong Kong can further sort of integrate with, say, digital China. I think both in legislative council here in Hong Kong, and also, when I was in Beijing, I've been pushing, you know, on all fronts. So, I think, I am gradually, gradually moving towards fulfilling my election promises, but I have five years to go, you can tell me how well I've done.

Chan: Yes, I will certainly be having a check on you. So, let's go to a break now. And viewers do stay with us, we will be right back.

Straight Talk's Eugene Chan interviews Hong Kong’s NPC deputy Dr Kennedy Wong on the show on TVB, March 21, 20223. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Chan: Welcome back. We have been talking with Dr Kennedy Wong, and his personal experience at the recent two sessions in Beijing. Now that we know a little bit more about how it works, let's go on and talk about the key points that were decided on and the effect on Hong Kong people. 

So, Kennedy, in the first half, thank you for giving us sort of a glimpse of what's behind the scene that you guys had to work very hard for the 10 days, and you were basically confined to the hotel and do a lot of homework for Hong Kong, and for the country as well. One point that we often read in the newspaper, especially from the western media, is that, we call them critics, say that NPC is just a rubber stamp organization, that it has no real debate on policy legislations. And now you've actually been attended as a deputy, how will you rebut them?

Wong: Well, I think first of all, in the election process, no one has asked us to vote for whoever. So, it is entirely our own free will, and it's a secret. So basically we can fill our ballot in a certain sort of booth. And also I think I just told you, during our group discussions, many representatives from different ministries attended. And actually they took our views and proposals very seriously, and they actually responded very promptly. So, I think under our Chinese constitution, the NPC has power to supervise state organs. Also, we have the power to elect and decide on the state senior officials, and we have the power to legislate. So, these are all clearly stated out in the Chinese constitution. So, that is my answer.

Chan: So, Kennedy, earlier in the first part of the show, you mentioned there are 2,977 deputies to the NPC, far more than the CPPCC, and we have 36 delegates from Hong Kong. That represents, I worked out, just over 1 percent. So, how much can the Hong Kong knowledge or expertise be able to contribute to the national development? And vice versa, how much are we being treasured from your point of view?

Wong: Well, I think since our return to the motherland, Hong Kong has always had 36 delegates. And I would say that as a percentage of our population, we are sort of over-represented in NPC because there are 1.4 billion Chinese, and only just slightly less than 3,000 delegates. So, about 450,000 on average, in the mainland, people would elect one NPC deputy. So, for Hong Kong, the percentage is higher. It actually shows that our state values Hong Kong very much. And I think many of our fellow Hong Kong deputies to the NPC are from business, professional and various backgrounds. They understand Hong Kong, and we have all worked very hard, and I think on average, we have submitted five proposals each to ministries at the highest level. So far, the responses are very positive, and quite a number of our proposals have been accepted. In particular, I submitted four proposals myself, three of them related to how better Hong Kong can integrate into the GBA. So I think they have been quite seriously looked at.

Chan: So, Kennedy, let's move on to what actually that was discussed and direction that was sort of confirmed, I mean there were two sessions. I read that there was a reform of the state government?

Wong: Yes.

Chan: Which you can tell us about that. And also there was an important election of President Xi as his third term of his presidency, and also other positions as well. So, our nation has undergone a very challenging time, both internationally and domestically. Can you tell us, summarise, what NPC has achieved over the last 12 months? And what are your views of NPC going ahead?

Wong: I think during the two sessions, I think most important, I would say, work that the NPC has completed, of course it was electing the next term of government, including our next president, vice president, chairman of the Central Military Commission, etc. But I think you also mentioned that we also approved the State Council's reform. The reform covered a number of important areas, I remember that it covers technology, it covers intellectual property rights, it covers the creation of a bureau on big data, and it also has created a bureau to look after the elderly. So, I think these are all very important areas that our central government considers, really important for the next term of government. And I missed one important area, which is the creation of sort of a wider financial regulatory commission. And also has expanded the China Security Regulatory Commission, so that it also covers the issuance of bonds. I think when our country develops, technology is very important. And in order for the technology sector to move forward, protecting intellectual property rights is very important. And then financial risks as we can see, globally it is a major risk that every government is facing, so strengthening financial control at the highest level. And then in order to develop our country's digital economy, in which I think Hong Kong should really ride on this high speed rail, is the creation of this big data bureau. So, I think big data is a huge piece of asset that our government, as well as the business sector, should really more utilize.

Chan: Kennedy, thank you for giving a very quick outline of what happened in the last 10 days of meetings in Beijing. And one comment I have picked up was President Xi said that Hong Kong’s prosperity is inseparable from our country's national development. That can only be a good thing for Hong Kong, isn’t it?

Wong: Yes, I think so. I think in the premier’s government work report, as well as many ministers’ kind of speeches here and there, everybody regarded Hong Kong as a very important SAR of the whole country. I think in particular, “One Country, Two Systems” has to advance further, and Hong Kong has to maintain our uniqueness as a very international city in the whole of China. So, I think in order for Hong Kong to prosper, I think we need to understand our state policy, we need to integrate economically. And we also need to utilize the “two systems” advantages. 

Chan: Right. Kennedy, there is … I am going to ask you even more direct questions relating to our viewers in Hong Kong. I mean you said earlier there was a restructuring of the China State Council that was approved, and that was also including an establishment of a dedicated body under the party’s Central Committee to oversee the affairs of Hong Kong and Macao. And that means the Hong Kong Macao Affairs Office now report directly to the central leadership. Could this affect people’s perception of the high degree of autonomy that we had in your view?

Wong: Well, I think under the Chinese constitution, Hong Kong is a special administrative region, and we all understand that the central government would love Hong Kong to maintain its “one country, two systems” status. So, I think Beijing loves Hong Kong, and that is my conclusion. So, I think whatever the central government does, I think we also need to look at it from the whole country’s point of view. But I think Hong Kong, we will be able to maintain our status as an international financial center because we are already an international financial center, and we have a common law legal system. And then we are going to serve not just the whole of China, but the world.

Chan: Right.

Wong: So, I think that is one of our strengths. And also we need to be more creative, and then advance on various technologies’ front. We need to work more hand in hand with, say Shenzhen.

Chan: Right.

Wong: And other parts of the Greater Bay Area.

Chan: Kennedy, with this now directly under the central party leadership, I mean even the CE said that this has pathed a way for better collaboration. So, have we had a problem in the past? Is that a reason we do it now?

Wong: I think there are still many areas that would reply G-to-G meetings and also dialogues. So, G-to-G meaning not just the central government, but provincial governments. So, I think our chief executive and his ministers have set a very good example. You know they spent more time in Beijing and they met with ministries. I think in the future, you know Hong Kong would need to understand what our neighbors, our neighboring provinces, what they are actually doing, and also what our central government would like our country to advance, and then grasp the opportunities they’re in. I think Beijing wants us to be successful, but we also need to understand where we had it.

Chan: Right. A quick answer from you: with the growing geopolitical stress of the west and the mainland, Hong Kong being having “one country, two systems”, do you think we will ride through the storm?

Wong: Yes, I believe so. I mean Hong Kong is as open as before, we still have the common law legal system, we are protecting everybody's investments here, and we also welcome people from all over the world to come and work here and play here. 

Chan:Right. We like to thank you, Kennedy, for sharing his experience at the National People's Congress. As CE John Lee has said, we need to pay more attention to the two sessions as many opportunities have been created on the mainland, that Hong Kong people and businesses can take advantage of. Have a good week and good night!