Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam told news outlet HK01 to produce “comprehensive” reporting on the government’s national security work, as she celebrated their fifth anniversary on Tuesday.
Lam said “happy birthday” to the newspaper in a video message played at a celebration event in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Tuesday. HK01 was founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Yu Pun-hoi, the controlling shareholder of the Hong Kong-listed Chinese company Nan Hai Corporation Limited.
In her speech, the city’s leader made reference to HK01‘s founding slogan “Hong Kong, it is time for a change.” According to a Chinese-only press release, she said that – while the city strived to change for a “better Hong Kong” – people should not forget about the original intention: safeguarding One Country, Two Systems.
Lam went on to say that Hong Kong faced “unprecedented challenges” over the past two years, as she cited last year’s enactment of the national security law and the recent proposal to “improve” the HKSAR’s electoral system as moves that brought the city “back on the right track.”
“I hope HK01 can exert its functions as the media to comprehensively and accurately report on the work related to implementing One Country, Two Systems, safeguarding national security and executing ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’.”
She also praised the news outlet for having a broad readership on its website, mobile app and weekly paper, as well as its “diversified work,” including organising several economic summit forums: “[I] wish HK01‘s business to bloom every day, continue to witness Hong Kong’s bright development in the future.”
Photos from HK01 showed Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Legislative Council President Andrew Leung and former chief executive Leung Chun-ying were among those who officiated the event on Tuesday.
Pro-Beijing lawmakers Holden Chow and Eunice Yung, police chief Chris Tang and leaders of three disciplined services attended the occasion. Pro-democracy figures Emily Lau and Roy Kwong of the Democratic Party and Civic Party chairman Alan Leong were also spotted.
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