Chief Executive Carrie Lam says she believes Beijing will deal with Liu Xiaobo’s situation in “a legal and compassionate way.”
She was asked by reporters on Tuesday if she would urge the central government to release ailing Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
“I don’t want to use the word ‘to pressure the central government,’” she said. “I have said time and again that as the chief executive, it is also my obligation to promote the positive development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the central authorities, and that arrangement must premise on trust.”
“This is something within the central government’s purview and jurisdiction, and I believe the central government will deal with this situation in a legal and compassionate way.”
Lam was speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting.
Liu was recently revealed to be suffering from late-stage liver cancer while serving an 11-year sentence for “subversion” after he co-wrote the pro-democracy manifesto Charter ’08.
Education package
Lam also thanked the Panel on Education at the Legislative Council who met on Monday to support her new HK$3.6 billion education package. It will be transferred to the Finance Committee on Friday for final approval.
She said she has asked Chan Kin-por, the chair of the Finance Committee, to waive the seven-day notice period. It will be discussed after the debate on additional funding for the MTR’s South Island Line.
Students will receive their results for the Diploma of Secondary Education Examination on Wednesday.
“I urge students to receive the results calmly. There are different ways in Hong Kong to look for a career – I hope they will use their expertise in different careers,” she said.
Lam said there were around 1,700 more students who graduated from primary schools to secondary schools, compared to last year. Only 11 secondary schools were expected to see classes shrink.
She extended a measure for two years whereby teachers in schools with falling class sizes will be able to remain at their posts. Lam said she expects the measure will help dozens of teachers.
Lam also gave her deep sympathies to the three victims who died in an industrial accident in Hung Hom on Monday.
Editor’s note: Digital media outlets such as Hong Kong Free Press are currently barred from attending government press conferences and asking questions of officials.
