CE respects DoJ decision

December 28, 2018

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:
There is no question of the Secretary for Justice being evasive. The question is I have approved her leave from December 15 to December 26, both days inclusive. And she has informed me that she would be out of Hong Kong throughout the whole period. So without her physical presence, there is no opportunity for her to respond to questions.

After my reporting of duty and before I departed for my own leave, I did manage to contact her when she was not in Hong Kong. But she explained to me that actually the statement that the Department of Justice has issued on December 12 was more or less the whole thing that she could say, and that was also on the advice of the Prosecutions Division, and that was all that she could say. She had very little to add or supplement to what has been contained in the press release. And when she came back from leave, standing right here, on December 26, that was the first occasion when she was back in Hong Kong and she was standing here to comment. 

As far as the perception, of course, as a political officer for many years, I do realise that public perception is important and that’s why in this term of Government, I have been advocating transparency, that we should attend Legislative Council and do explanations. But that doesn’t mean that we should allow issues which are supposed to be not subject to interference to be unduly interfered and those are prosecution decisions. So we have to stand by principles and they are very important principles underpinning the rule of law in Hong Kong. So on this particular case, I respect the decision, the professional decision made by the Secretary for Justice and her colleagues. And I support her decision based on her legal expertise and very rich experience over many years.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said she respects the professional decision made by the Department of Justice.

Mrs Lam was responding to reporters’ questions on the department’s decision to not prosecute former Chief Executive CY Leung in the UGL case.

Speaking upon returning to Hong Kong from holiday, she said: “I respect the decision, the professional decision made by the Secretary for Justice and her colleagues.

“I support her decision based on her legal expertise and very rich experience over many years.”

The Chief Executive noted the issue has been ongoing for three to four years and that the decision made on it was apolitical.

Mrs Lam added she hopes the department’s decision can conclude the issue.