Ensuring "One Country, Two Systems" and Promoting Stability and Prosperity-Interview with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam
Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, April 3 -
Title: Paul "one country two systems" to promote stability and prosperity - Interview with Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam
Xinhua News Agency reporters Bai Lin, Hu Chuangwei, Niu Qi
After the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the amendments to Annex I and Annex II of the Hong Kong Basic Law, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam accepted an exclusive interview for the first time a few days ago.
"Guarantee'One Country, Two Systems' Promote Stability and Prosperity."
Next to the brochure neatly placed in the office of the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam responded and answered one by one on the focus of the future work of the SAR and the focus of social attention.
The new electoral system will attract more capable people
"This has taken a very important step in improving Hong Kong's electoral system. In the future, there will be a large number of election laws in Hong Kong that must be revised accordingly in accordance with the revised Annex I and Annex II of the Hong Kong Basic Law." Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said that the work will be very compact in the future. In addition to the amendments to local laws in the next 12 months, three elections for the Election Committee, the Legislative Council and the Chief Executive will also be arranged.
In this regard, she deeply feels the heavy responsibility.
On the day when the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the amendments to Annex I and Annex II of the Hong Kong Basic Law, Carrie Lam met with the Chairman of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Leung Junyan to discuss local legislation on improving the electoral system and other follow-up work.
How does the legislative council formed after the improvement of the electoral system cooperate with the executive-led political system?
Regarding this issue, Carrie Lam said that the first three years of this Legislative Council were chaotic and did not perform its constitutional function at all.
However, since 4 members of the Legislative Council were disqualified in accordance with the law in November last year, and the other 15 "resigned", the functions of the Legislative Council have been basically restored, and practical work has been done in just three months.
"It's not a single word, nor is it all-in-one. (Members of the Legislative Council) can criticize us and can oppose the bills we propose." Carrie Lam said, but he cannot do things that violate "one country, two systems" and endanger national security.
Can the improved electoral system attract more capable people?
Carrie Lam said frankly that Hong Kong has talents and people who are responsible for Hong Kong.
But the past political system gave them a sense of chaos and made them reluctant to enter.
After the electoral system is improved, we are confident that we can attract more capable people and consolidate the administrative-led political system.
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor believes that after national security is guaranteed and the electoral system is successfully implemented and perfected, the conditions for "one country, two systems" to be implemented stably and far-reaching are better, but there are still a lot of systems to be improved, such as education, media, and civil servant training and management.
"With these tasks, whether Hong Kong people, mainlanders or foreigners, they should have more and more confidence in'one country, two systems'," she said.
The SAR government will more actively understand the concerns of the people
Carrie Lam emphasized that a "people-oriented" government is needed in the future.
"We will definitely contact the people more in the days to come, understand their concerns, and respond positively," she said.
Improving the electoral system is also to better focus on the economy and improve people's livelihood, especially to solve deep-seated problems such as housing accumulated in Hong Kong for a long time.
"The current and previous governments have put housing and land as the top priority for policy considerations." Carrie Lam emphasized that the SAR government has a very important role in housing supply and cannot be ignored just because Hong Kong is a free market and a capitalist society. "Housing It is not a simple commodity, but a very important pillar for stabilizing the society. For the people to have feelings for this place, they must live in peace, so that they can work in peace.”
How to create an ideal housing ladder for Hong Kong residents?
Carrie Lam said that in order to allow families of different classes to live in, the SAR government has introduced some new housing policies, and at the same time 70% of the newly developed land will be used for public housing construction, which is a significant increase compared to the previous one.
"The only problem now is finding land." She said frankly that every method of finding land will not be overlooked, including developing brownfields, rebuilding old areas, replanning industrial areas, etc., but the most important land supply is still filling. sea.
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor lamented that she had proposed a large-scale artificial island reclamation plan in 2018, but it took a year and a half to apply for research funding from the Legislative Council: "How many in Hong Kong a year and a half can be wasted? If the Legislative Council has 18 A study was passed only a month, and a chairperson (committee) was elected only in 7 months. The development of Hong Kong is very pessimistic."
Carrie Lam said that she now sees optimistic conditions.
"In the future, we will definitely work harder and put more effort into land development."
Without vaccination, there is no ability to completely control the epidemic
Since the end of March, the epidemic situation in Hong Kong has stabilized, and the SAR government's anti-epidemic measures have achieved certain results.
Carrie Lam said that she would not take it lightly at any time.
"In fact, it was very difficult for a while." Carrie Lam explained that when the epidemic first started, the "black storms" were still raging. Some quarantine facilities were damaged. In addition, they experienced serious social conflicts. Some Hong Kong citizens lacked confidence in the SAR government. , "You want him to get an injection and he will not do it, and you want him to quarantine and he will not go."
Carrie Lam proposed that the anti-epidemic process should be very open and transparent.
"We must stick to the strategy of external defense against input and internal defense against rebound."
"The most important and effective thing now is vaccination." She said, "In fact, Hong Kong is really happy and fortunate. We have a lot of vaccines and we have the support of the central government. The supply is stable."
As of April 1, Hong Kong officially launched the 35th day of the new crown vaccination plan. About 500,000 Hong Kong residents were vaccinated, a relatively low proportion.
"The enthusiasm has not come up, some are because of worry, and some media reports have also produced some misleading. "But without vaccinations, there is no ability to completely control the epidemic."
She emphasized that if Hong Kong society has a 70% vaccination rate, it will have the ability for herd immunity, and other places are also willing to clear customs and conduct personnel exchanges with Hong Kong.
Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said: "The current vaccination rate is still not ideal, and a lot of education and publicity are needed." The SAR government will continue to announce some policies to encourage vaccination, hoping that more citizens will be vaccinated.
Three words can be used to refute certain countries: double standards, hypocrisy, lies
From the formulation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law to the improvement of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region election system, external anti-China forces have never given up any opportunity to interfere in Hong Kong affairs.
"I have been the Chief Executive for almost four years. Especially in the past two years, I have a personal experience of some overseas governments and politicians using Hong Kong to achieve their goals." Carrie Lam pointed out that because Hong Kong is a free and pluralistic society, they have There are many opportunities to come to Hong Kong to do various things, including appointing one's own agents into the political structure, undermining the relationship between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and using Hong Kong to attack the People's Republic of China.
Carrie Lam used three words to describe their behavior: double standards, hypocrisy and lies.
"For example, national security, every country has its own national security law, but when Hong Kong's national security law is implemented, they blame us; for example,'patriots govern Hong Kong', every country requires civil servants to love the country, but when we require civil servants When swearing allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and upholding the Basic Law, they said that we are stifling freedom of speech; for example, violence, our police are highly civilized, but some governments and media always accuse the police of violence. But it is said to be unacceptable." Carrie Lam said that there are many examples that prove that their double standards are shameless and blatant.
Regarding hypocrisy, Carrie Lam asked: "They said they want to stand with Hong Kong people, but have they asked Hong Kong people what we want?" She said, "We want peace and stability, but for a long time, every When people’s positions are different from those of the mob, they will be attacked or even set on fire. Did they say (standing with these Hong Kong people)? No.
As for lies, Carrie Lam said: “Some things are lying, not facts at all. The biggest lie is about the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Every time they accuse us, saying that China has violated the Sino-British Joint Declaration. But if You ask which clause of the joint declaration has been violated, and they are silent. They cannot quote specific clauses.
"I think we will not be intimidated by the'sanctions' imposed on me, Hong Kong SAR government officials and senior officials of the People's Republic of China. We will continue to do the right thing to defend the country and the Hong Kong SAR." Carrie Lam said at last.
(Reporter who participated in the writing: Fang Dong)