China’s president Xi Jinping has told Hong Kong to “take all necessary steps” to contain the city’s biggest coronavirus wave in a rare directive that analysts believe could pave the way for more stringent measures in the Asian financial hub.

Chinese government-controlled newspapers in Hong Kong ran Xi’s remarks on their front pages on Wednesday, saying the Chinese leader stressed that the city should “mobilise all possible forces and resources” to protect the health of residents and maintain social stability. Controlling the spiralling outbreak of the Omicron variant, Xi added, should take “priority over everything else”.

“[The city must]?take every necessary action to ensure the safety and health of Hong Kong residents,” the newspapers quoted Xi as saying.