High-speed railway tops list of governance-related news

In a media campaign to choose the top 10 events relating to the special administrative region’s governance, the launch of the Hong Kong section of the GuangzhouShenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link won first place.

The opening of the Hong KongZhuhai-Macao Bridge came just after it.

The campaign, co-hosted by 24 local media groups including Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group and China Daily Asia Pacific, received more than 140,000 votes from local residents. This was the highest number since the campaign started in 1998.

Attending the award ceremony on Wednesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she was not surprised by the result.

As of Feb 10 — only several months after the two infrastructure projects began operating — over 7.9 million passengers have used the high-speed railway while 7.5 million have traveled on the mega bridge.

The popularity of these projects removed any earlier anxiety about the two facilities, Lam added.

Two policies relating to housing and land have entered the top 10 events in 2018. They are the package of six new initiatives on housing and the “Lantau Tomorrow Vision” reclamation plan.

Legislation on the National Anthem Law, two Legislative Council by-elections, and the banning of Hong Kong National Party were also on the list.

Lam said she would continue to defend the “one country, two systems” principle, the Basic Law and rule of law, while publicizing the development both on the mainland and in the Hong Kong SAR.

Other governance events chosen included the Caring and Sharing Scheme, Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation’s Annuity Plan, and the proposed abolition of the offsetting arrangement under the Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme.

Jiang Zaizhong, president of Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, said the results showed not only people’s approval of the SAR government, but their expectations for law-based governance, economic development, and improving their livelihoods.

Jiang said in 2018 — the first full year of Lam’s administration — its performance was recognized by President Xi Jinping. He praised it for being “responsible and active”.

This is because the SAR government has worked hard to resolve issues affecting the public and to create better conditions for Hong Kong’s youth, Jiang added.

EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (fourth left); Yang Jian (third right), deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR; Xie Feng (third left), commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR; Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen (second right), president of the Legislative Council, and other guests with the winners at Wednesday’s prize presentation ceremony for the top 10 events related to the HKSAR’s governance in 2018.