A recent visit to Hong Kong by the new executive deputy director of the central government’s top office for the city’s affairs was likely to have been to check on the progress of the Northern Metropolis megadevelopment, political analysts have said.

Xu Qifang, the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), made his first official visit to the city last week following his appointment earlier this month.

According to a statement from the office, Xu led a team to Hong Kong and Macau to carry out research, meet officials from both cities and conduct on-site inspections of the Northern Metropolis and Hengqin cooperation zone, across from Macau.

It was believed to be Xu’s first visit to Hong Kong since he was appointed earlier in July, taking over from Zhou Ji, who was made the director of Beijing’s liaison office in the city.

Veteran political commentator Sonny Lo Shiu-hing said on Sunday that he believed Xu had “several objectives” in coming to the city beyond the standard courtesy visit one would expect from an official being appointed to the role.