First open dialogue set

September 17, 2019

Chief Executive Carrie Lam: 
The first question about the dialogue platform, we are holding the first session next week and this is an open dialogue platform, in which we will invite people from all walks of life to come to express their views to us. This is because of our conviction that communication is far better than confrontation. I hope there is no doubt by now that after three months of social unrest, after a formal withdrawal of the bill - which apparently has set off this social unrest - people now realise that it is not just about the bill, the problems go well beyond a bill. So it is important for the Government to listen and to engage the community to have a better understanding of those problems. Of course I understand some of these problems about housing, about land shortage, about less diversity, less inclusiveness in our economy and so on, but since we are going into a new style of governance that is more open and more people-oriented, I think this sort of dialogue will be very helpful. So that is the purpose of creating that dialogue. And I can assure you, that this is not the sort of one-off gimmick type of function. It is intended to be organised on a very sustainable and perhaps long-term basis. So the volume of having this sort of dialogue sessions is also very important to us.

(To watch the video with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has announced that the Government will hold the first session of its open dialogue next week to enable people from all walks of life to express their views.

Mrs Lam made the statement before today's Executive Council meeting, saying that an open dialogue platform was created due to the Government’s conviction that communication is far better than confrontation.

“I hope there is no doubt by now that after three months of social unrest, after a formal withdrawal of the Fugitive Offenders & Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 - which apparently has set off this social unrest - people now realise that it is not just about the bill, the problems go well beyond a bill.

“So it is important for the Government to listen and to engage the community to have a better understanding of those problems.

“I understand some of these problems about housing, about land shortage, about less diversity, less inclusiveness in our economy and so on, but since we are going into a new style of governance that is more open and more people-oriented, I think this sort of dialogue will be very helpful.”

Details of the first session will be announced later, Mrs Lam added.

She also assured the public that such dialogue is not a one-off gimmick and is intended to be organised on a sustainable and long-term basis.