Chief Executive Carrie Lam

Today I present the fourth Policy Address in my term of office. First of all, I would like to thank the Honourable Members, participants of the 24 consultation sessions and members of the community for giving many views and suggestions for this Policy Address. This shows that you all care about Hong Kong, support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in enhancing its governance, and are willing to offer advice with the aim of building a better Hong Kong which is our home.

In preparing for this year’s Policy Address, I deeply felt that I was charged with a heavy responsibility. In the past year or so, Hong Kong has experienced multiple blows which are unprecedented: the social unrest arising from the opposition to the proposed legislative amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and other anti-government acts, the shrinking economy and rising unemployment rate caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, and the acts that endangered national security due to interference by external forces. All these have seriously undermined the social stability of the Hong Kong SAR, impeded its economic development and tarnished its international image, and for which our society has paid a high price. Under such circumstances, the worries and anxieties of the people and their loss of confidence in the future are entirely understandable. Naturally, they will expect the Hong Kong SAR Government to do more and to do better. As such, the primary objective of this Policy Address is to look at ways to get Hong Kong out of the impasse and to restore people’s confidence as soon as possible.

In his keynote address delivered at the meeting celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return to the Motherland and the Inaugural Ceremony of the Fifth-term Government of the Hong Kong SAR held on July 1, 2017, President Xi Jinping pointed out that the implementation of “one country, two systems” entailed an evolving process, and that Hong Kong had encountered some new circumstances and issues in the process. He mentioned that the continued successful implementation of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong hinged on “four imperatives”, namely, it was imperative to have a correct understanding of the relationship between “one country” and “two systems”; it was imperative to always act in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR of the People’s Republic of China; it was imperative to always focus on development as the top priority; and it was imperative to always maintain a harmonious and stable social environment. The Policy Address that I deliver today seeks to restore Hong Kong’s constitutional order, consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s strengths and diversify its economic development, and build on our past efforts to continue to improve people’s well-being, with a view to resolving our immediate and long-term social problems. I wish to receive support from the Legislative Council and the community.

This is the English translation of Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s Policy Address opening remarks delivered on November 25.