HK chief exec says restoring order a priority

HONG KONG: The government’s priority is to “restore the political system from chaos”, the city’s chief executive Carrie Lam said yesterday in her annual policy address, which did not deliver blockbuster steps to boost the economy or ease a housing crisis.

Lam’s lengthy address to the semi-autonomous city’s legislature was delayed by more than a month to accommodate her trip to Beijing for talks on how China can help with the city’s economic recovery.

She spent a large part of her address on the need to restore order and protect China’s national security.

The central government’s role in the former British colony has been in the spotlight, in particular with the imposition in June of a security law after months of pro-democracy protests, the most intense in decades, last year.

“In the past year or so, Hong

Kong has experienced the most severe political challenges since its return to the motherland,” Lam said. “One of our urgent priorities is to restore ... constitutional order and political system from chaos.”

She accused foreign governments and legislatures of increasing interference in Hong Kong’s affairs, which she said were China’s internal affairs, and that their actions were jeopardising national security.

Lam said the government will introduce a Bill to “enhance oathtaking” by civil servants and conduct widespread public education “to enhance the understanding of the rule of law”.

The government will launch programmes to educate Hong Kong’s youth, who were at the frontlines of last year’s demonstrations, about respecting China’s national flag and its anthem. – Reuters