The People's Daily (January 28) disclosed that Chinese President Xi Jinping heard Carrie Lam’s 2020 Work Report on Hong Kong via video conference on January 27. During the conference Xi Jinping said that he was “very concerned, and worried” about the fourth wave of Covid-19 outbreak in Hong Kong, and that he sent his regards to all people of Hong Kong. He acknowledged Carrie Lam’s efforts to stabilize Hong Kong over the past year, amid the anti-extradition bill protests, coronavirus outbreaks, and economic recovery adding that such efforts “have yielded certain results.” He praised Carrie Lam for being 'resolute in reinforcing the National Security Law passed by the National People’s Congress' and described her actions as demonstrating her 'firm political stance on the question of national security, and showed her patriotism and her love for the people of Hong Kong'.  People's Daily cited Xi Jinping saying that the lesson from the stabilization of Hong Kong was that the “one country two systems” model must be resolutely upheld, and that we must adhere to “patriots rule Hong Kong,” a considerable change from “Hong Kongers rule Hong Kong,” which had been the usual rhetoric of the central leadership regarding governing Hong Kong. Only through “patriots ruling Hong Kong” (爱国者治港), Xi Jinping said, can the central government achieve comprehensive administrative authority over Hong Kong. In conclusion, Xi Jinping particularly sent his regards to the members in Lam’s government who are affected by “nonsensical” American sanctions.

Later the same day he heard the 2020 Work Report of the Chief Executive of Macau.  

Vice Premier Han Zheng, Politburo member and Secretary of the Central Secretariat Ding Xuexiang, Politburo member and Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary Guo Shengkun, Director of the Central United Front Work Department You Quan, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the Director of the State Council Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office were all present.

(Comment: It is interesting that the People's Daily mentioned that Xi Jinping conveyed his regards to those in the Hongkong government affected by the American sanctions. This suggests that the sanctions are hurting and having an impact on CCP cadres.)