Officials say prioritizing development, national security brings bright future
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has emphasized the importance of fully implementing “one country, two systems” and upholding the Basic Law, urging the public to stay vigilant against the proliferation of “soft confrontations”.
He also expressed concern over the increasingly complex international environment, and the prevalence of disruptive overseas activities that might undermine stability in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Lee made the remarks in a video speech at a seminar commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the Basic Law’s promulgation on Saturday.
He said the “soft confrontations” are aimed at challenging the central government’s overall jurisdiction over the SAR, the city’s high degree of autonomy, and even the Chinese mainland’s political system. Such tactics are disguised as “justified concerns” to exploit livelihood issues and other matters to incite conflicts and mislead the public.
To guard against incitement by external forces’ local disruptors, Lee urged members of the public to respect and uphold the nation’s fundamental system, and fully and accurately implement “one country, two systems”.
Hong Kong residents should continue to strengthen their understanding of the Constitution, the HKSAR’s Basic Law and the National Security Law for Hong Kong, Lee said. He said he hopes various sectors can jointly promote these laws.
Referring to the seventh District Council elections — the first to be held following the improvement of the local district governance system — he said they’ll restore the role of district councils to a purely consultative organization under Article 97 of the Basic Law, and fully implement the principle of “patriots administrating Hong Kong”.
Lee called on more aspiring talents to seek nominations to run in the upcoming elections before nominations close today, and urged voters to actively cast their votes on Dec 10.
Liu Guangyuan, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, said residents should reflect on the city’s history, and bolster confidence in the principle of “one country, two systems”.
He expects Hong Kong to firmly safeguard national security, and prioritize development by leveraging its unique status and advantages to create a prosperous future. The SAR should seize the opportunities offered, deepen its exchanges and cooperation with various countries and regions, and actively contribute to the nation’s overall development, thereby forging a brighter future for the city and its residents.
Secretary of Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok told the seminar the SAR can better leverage the advantages of the “one country, two systems” framework, given that the community apprehends the original intent of the Basic Law, and firmly upholds it.
Lam recalled that some anti-China agitators had exploited the district council elections in 2019 to try to seize control of Hong Kong’s governance, causing the councils to deviate from their original functions as prescribed in the Basic Law. He said the improvements made to the district councils will rectify the situation without undermining the rights of residents to participate in regional elections.
The seminar attracted more than 400 participants, including government officials, lawmakers, legal experts and young students.
