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Thursday, August 01, 2019, 01:36
Tung: No compromise over acts of violence
By Chen Zimo
Thursday, August 01, 2019, 01:36 By Chen Zimo

Tung Chee-hwa, former chief executive and also the chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation, delivered a speech before a luncheon meeting on Wednesday. He made a clear point that there's no chance of compromise for those challenging the central government's sovereignty, pledging full support to Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the police. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG-Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa said on Wednesday there must be “no compromise” when dealing with the “black sheep” bent on destabilizing Hong Kong through violence, and the government should address the city’s social issues without delay.

Addressing a luncheon held by Our Hong Kong Foundation, Tung — the founder of the think tank and vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, the nation’s top political advisory body — called on the city’s residents to reject violence and support the police in defending the rule of law.

The SAR government will never tolerate violence because Hong Kong is a city governed by the rule of law, where the government, the police force, and the judiciary must perform their duties in accordance with the law ... Above all, citizens must abide by the law.

Tung Chee-hwa

Former chief executive and chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation

Tung, who became the first chief executive of the special administrative region in 1997, said he believes the SAR government will never tolerate violence because Hong Kong is a city governed by the rule of law, where the government, the police force, and the judiciary must perform their duties in accordance with the law.

“Above all, citizens must abide by the law,” Tung said.

He also urged the SAR government to immediately address livelihood issues that have troubled Hong Kong for many years, stressing that there should be no more delays in finding solutions to these problems.

The former CE conceded that the lack of significant improvements in the housing-shortage problem and widening income gap has made some young people choose to release their emotions through “street politics”.

The public should remain confident that the government will carry out bold reforms to restore public confidence, Tung said.

Tung also expressed full confidence in the principle of “one country, two systems, Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy”.

The recent demonstrations have proved that Hong Kong people’s freedom of speech and assembly is guaranteed by the Basic Law, Tung said.

However, anti-China forces, especially in the United States and Taiwan, have exploited the differences between the system of Hong Kong and that of the Chinese mainland to incite Hong Kong people to jeopardize the city’s relationship with the mainland, Tung said.

Hong Kong people must not be used as “pawns” when those forces try to use Hong Kong as a base of resistance to the central government.

It was also regrettable that a small number of people took advantage of the tolerance of the government and society, Tung said. By indulging in violent acts, these people have shaken Hong Kong’s economy and society and damaged the relationship between the central government and the SAR, he added.

Eminent Hong Kong businessman Allan Zeman said that “Hong Kong is a great place, but we will destroy it if violence is allowed to continue.”

News of the violence in Hong Kong in recent weeks had traveled around the world, he added.

From this news footage, “people are getting the wrong impression of what is happening in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will continue to go down if we don’t get together and find a way to solve the problem,” said Zeman.


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