Liaison office tells Hong Kong deputies, advisers to unite to get through the tough times

The central government has reiterated it'll resolutely support Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, according to Hong Kong deputies to the nation's top legislature and members of the nation's top political advisory body.

The deputies to the National People's Congress and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee spoke after meeting officials of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR on Sunday morning.

The meeting was held a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced her decision to suspend the legislative process to amend the city's extradition laws.

Tam Yiu-chung - the SAR's sole deputy on the NPC Standing Committee - quoted liaison officials as saying that the central government supports, respects and understands Lam's decision, and will continue to firmly back the SAR government's administration.

The liaison office urged the NPC deputies and political advisers to back the chief executive's work in accordance with law, and unite to get through the tough times, Tam said.

He also quoted Wang Zhimin -director of the liaison office - as saying that the aim of amending the rendition laws is in the interest of Hong Kong people, but the legislation process has been constantly interfered with and vilified by foreign forces.

According to statistics Wang referred to at the meeting, foreign countries made statements on the extradition issue 67 times, and meddled in it through other channels. He called on relevant organizations and individuals in Hong Kong not to allow themselves to be used as pawns.

According to Tam, the Hong Kong police's devotion to safeguarding the city's public security was acknowledged by the liaison office, which also appreciated the police officers who had worked for more than 10 consecutive hours last week.

Chan Wing-Kee - a Hong Kong member of the CPPCC National Committee who was among those at the meeting - also cited the central government pledging full support for the chief executive.

The meeting was attended by more than 200 political figures, including Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, a former Hong Kong member of the NPC Standing Committee; Maria Tam Wai-chu, deputy director of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the NPC Standing Committee; and Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, former director-general of the World Health Organization.

One the same day, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in HKSAR also issued a statement extending similar support.

An Office spokesperson lodged solemn representations with foreign media over their false reports on Hong Kong's proposed rendition bill legislation.

The spokesperson stressed that the amendments are necessary and justified as they will help to plug existing legal loopholes and uphold social justice. The amendments are made in accordance with international standards and practices.

The Office's statement is understood to be in response to a story by news agency Reuters. The story, published on Saturday, claimed that the HKSAR government's decision to suspend the legislation process was made because the Chinese central government had "yielded" to the SAR's unique economic status.

Contact the writer at kathyzhang@chinadailyhk.com

NPC Standing Committee member Tam Yiu-chung (second right) and local deputies to the National People's Congress speak to the media after a meeting on Sunday at the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Provided to CHina Daily

(HK Edition 06/17/2019 page4)