In this June 18, 2019 photo, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor vows to better serve the people of Hong Kong for her remaining term. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)
Cross-sector leaders in Hong Kong on Friday voiced their continued support for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor — saying Lam plays an “irreplaceable” role in leading society forward after recent divisions over extradition law amendments.
Ian Fok Chun-wan, chief executive officer of the Fok Ying Tung Group said that if CE Carrie Lam resigns — as demanded by some demonstrators — the delivery of government policies would be greatly affected
Former Legislative Council chairman Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai said she could not think of anyone better suited to lead the city and help it move on from recent disputes. She stressed that Lam still outperformed most civil servants in terms of ability and dedication.
Fan, formerly a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, met the chief executive and about 20 political and business representatives at Government House on Thursday.
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Lam showed foresight and considerable resolution when dealing with deeply rooted livelihood issues, Fan told China Daily.
She said that since taking office in July 2017, Lam had achieved much in regard to building a better Hong Kong — especially the special administrative region’s integration into the country’s overall development.
A number of important policies had been introduced since August 2017 to make it more convenient for Hong Kong people to live and work on the mainland. The central government granted Hong Kong research institutes direct access to national funds in May 2018.
“A leader like her is exactly what Hong Kong needs,” stressed Fan.
Ian Fok Chun-wan, chief executive officer of the Fok Ying Tung Group, who also attended Thursday’s meeting, agreed.
“I really hope that Lam, a competent, far-sighted and responsible leader, can continue to serve the public in the interests of the city’s long-term stability. Now that she has already apologized for the inadequacies of her work (over the extradition law amendments), I think we should give her a chance,” Fok said.
The business leader also said that if Lam resigns — as demanded by some demonstrators — the delivery of government policies would be greatly affected. This would undermine the city’s stability and its business environment.
He hopes the local business community will offer more support to Lam and continue to make constructive suggestions to the SAR government.
Lawmaker Kenneth Lau Ip-keung said on Friday he would fully support Lam and her administration. He made these comments after attending a reception to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.
“No government is perfect and even saints make mistakes,” noted the non-official member of the Executive Council, a policy advisory body to the CE.
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As long as the government keeps assessing the current situation with prudence and heeds public opinion, the New Territories community will do their utmost to assist its future work, said Lau, who’s also chairman of Heung Yee Kuk, a statutory advisory body representing residents in the New Territories.
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