Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said there is no reason to tolerate Hong Kong independence.
She was responding to comments by Zhang Xiaoming, the newly appointed top Beijing official in charge of Hong Kong affairs. He said Hong Kong should take a zero tolerance attitude towards independence.
“Of course I agree with director Zhang Xiaoming,” Lam told reporters ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting. “As a Special Administrative Region, under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle, there is no reason to tolerate Hong Kong independence. This matter is totally not beneficial to Hong Kong. It violates the constitution and the Basic Law.”
Lam said Hong Kong should use its rule of law to handle the matter.
“But I believe, currently, most residents agree that there is no room for Hong Kong independence… We should express together the need to put a stop to pro-independence advocacy as soon as possible.”
Housing plans
Lam will deliver her first policy address on October 11 at the Legislative Council. She said she has been working on housing issues.
“The housing issue cannot be solved overnight, but the government has been trying every means to alleviate the problem of housing shortage,” she said she understood there was criticism over the government’s measures.
Recent proposals include a new government scheme for local first-time home buyers, schemes led by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service on container homes, as well as community housing for people who have been on public housing waiting lists for extended periods.
“I hope society can understand that our colleagues in charge of housing will consider whatever means to give people hope, so that they understand the government has the determination to solve the housing issue,” she added.
She said she hoped the public will show a spirit of seeking consensus and give suggestions to the government Task Force on Land Supply.
