Lead

Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has called on the city's media to contribute to "telling the 'good stories of Hong Kong'" amid global turbulence, as the territory formulates its first five-year blueprint to align with national development. Speaking at an annual award ceremony organised by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong on Friday, Lee said the local media was not only a witness and recorder of events, but must also facilitate and contribute to the city's and China's progress.

Separately, Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs, Zhou Ji, addressed the Tsinghua Alumni Association of Hong Kong's 70th Anniversary Summit on Sunday, urging alumni to help the city better serve national development. City leader John Lee Ka-chiu also expressed hope that more university graduates would assist the city in becoming an international education hub and promoting high-quality national development.

Coverage Comparison

Both events were covered by the South China Morning Post, which reported Lee's remarks at the newspaper awards ceremony and Zhou Ji's speech at the Tsinghua alumni summit. The outlet highlighted Lee's emphasis on the media's role in promoting Hong Kong's development and Zhou Ji's expectations for Tsinghua alumni to contribute to national goals.

Key Claims

  • Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu spoke at an annual award ceremony organised by the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong. He called on the media to tell "good stories of Hong Kong" amid global turbulence.
  • The city is formulating its first five-year blueprint to align with national development.
  • Lee emphasized the importance of media professionals upholding their professional ethics and adhering to the core values of enhancing the interests of the country and Hong Kong.
  • Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs, Zhou Ji, spoke at the Tsinghua Alumni Association of Hong Kong's 70th Anniversary Summit.
  • Zhou Ji called on Tsinghua University alumni to help Hong Kong better serve national development.
  • City leader John Lee Ka-chiu expressed hope for more university graduates to assist the city in becoming an international education hub.
  • Zhou Ji laid out expectations for Tsinghua alumni to uphold patriotic contributions, promote pragmatism, and leverage their global networks.
Lee's remarks at the Newspaper Society ceremony were reported by the South China Morning Post, which quoted him as saying that in the face of "the current turbulent and ever-changing global situation and geopolitical developments," media professionals would "uphold their professional ethics and adhere to the core values of enhancing the interests of the country and Hong Kong." He called on the media to "perform great deeds" by telling good stories of Hong Kong and China, and to exert a positive influence by telling residents and people abroad stories that "illustrate development facts, opportunities and advantages of Hong Kong." Lee noted that this year marked the beginning of the national 15th five-year plan from 2026 to 2030, which emphasised shaping Chinese discourse and narratives.

At the Tsinghua alumni summit, Zhou Ji said the alumni had "led the way" in practising the "one country, two systems" governing principle, as it had aided collaboration between the city and the university, as well as Hong Kong and mainland China, for decades. He outlined three expectations: upholding Tsinghua's tradition of patriotic contributions, promoting the spirit of pragmatism, and leveraging their global networks. "Over the years, Tsinghua alumni have flourished and spread across the globe, making outstanding achievements in many fields such as scientific and technological innovation. This rich pool of alumni resources is itself 'rich ore'," Zhou said, according to the report. He added that with the strong support of the central government, Chief Executive John Lee had led the government and all sectors of society to accelerate the construction of an international innovation centre and a talent hub, providing a broad stage for alumni to contribute to Hong Kong and serve the country.

John Lee Ka-chiu also spoke at the summit, expressing hope that more Tsinghua graduates would assist the city in becoming an international education hub and promoting high-quality national development, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Perspectives

Government of Hong Kong

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu urged media to tell positive stories of Hong Kong and support national development, emphasizing professional ethics and alignment with national interests.

Central Government Liaison Office

Zhou Ji, Beijing's point man on Hong Kong affairs, called on Tsinghua alumni to use their patriotism, pragmatism, and global networks to help Hong Kong serve national development, highlighting their role in collaboration and innovation.