Hong Kong's next chief executive, John Lee, was due to travel to Beijing on Saturday to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and endorse his appointment, just over a month before he takes office.
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At 64, the former Hong Kong security boss, who had overseen the repression of the pro-democracy movement, was appointed in early May by a small "
electoral committee
" loyal to Beijing.
A new electoral system, wanted by Beijing, was put in place in 2021 to ensure that Hong Kong is ruled exclusively by "
patriots
" loyal to the Chinese regime.
During this four-day visit to China, John Lee, who was the only candidate to succeed outgoing leader Carrie Lam, must also meet with senior Chinese leaders, according to Hong Kong media.
Disputes unlikely
He is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi, who must notably approve the list of people who will form his team, said the daily South China Morning Post.
Over the weekend, the future chief executive will have to undergo screening tests and observe quarantine, as part of the anti-Covid measures in force in China.
John Lee will take office on July 1, the 25th anniversary of the UK's handover of Hong Kong to China.
Xi Jinping's presence in Hong Kong for these two events has not yet been confirmed.
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His arrival would be the president's first trip outside mainland China since the start of the pandemic.
In 2017, he made a three-day visit to Hong Kong to attend the swearing in of Carrie Lam.
This trip was marked by demonstrations.
It is unlikely that a protest movement will be repeated this year, Beijing having for two years imposed a draconian national security law to suppress any dissent.
