HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will act without fear to safeguard national security and the legitimate interests of SAR government officials over sanctions imposed by the United States, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday.
“We strongly condemn the US' so-called sanctions. These despicable acts are intended to intimidate officials trying to safeguard national security,” the chief executive told reporters ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting.
Emphasizing that it was a form of hegemony for the US to meddle in the city’s affairs, he pointed out that the government is responsible for safeguarding national security and pursuing those who endangered national security in accordance to the law.
“We will continue to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security. Sanctions will only strengthen our confidence in the efforts to defend national security,” he added.
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At the same briefing, the CE reiterated the government’s stance over the sale of two ports on the Panama Canal by CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd, saying that the issue deserved serious attention as it had sparked extensive discussion in society and reflected public concern.
“The HKSAR government urges foreign governments to provide a fair and just environment for enterprises, including those from Hong Kong. We oppose the abusive use of coercion or bullying tactics in international economic and trade relations,” said Lee.
Any transaction must comply with legal and regulatory requirements, he added.
SAR’s aid for Myanmar
Asked about the operations of the HKSAR rescue team in earthquake-hit Myanmar, the CE praised the professionalism and team spirits displayed by the city’s rescuers amid various challenges, including disrupted traffic, a lack of telecommunication and poor hygienic conditions.
“Various government departments hold video conferences with them every day. We hope that they would return to Hong Kong safely after completing their mission,” he said, adding that the government will determine when they will come back after reviewing the team's overall work.
Visit by US influencer to HK
Regarding the visit by famous US YouTuber “IShowSpeed” to Hong Kong last week to experience the city’s vibrancy, Lee said the Hong Kong Tourism Board had tried to reach out to the influencer’s team to provide assistance for his visit but did not receive any response.
“The HKSAR government will seize every opportunities to proactively approach influencers who want to come to Hong Kong and will provide support,” he stressed, adding that different sectors should also be hospitable and proactive in promoting the city and offering assistance to visitors.
‘Super March’
Asked how successful “Hong Kong Super March” tourism campaign was, Lee hailed it as a “huge success”, particularly in bringing more visitors to the city.
“Art Central had attracted 25 percent of tourists, while about 40 percent of spectators at the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament were tourists and more than 50 percent of Art Basel visitors were tourists,” he said, adding that different industries responded that they reported additional operating income of 15 to 30 percent or more.
