Chief Executive John Lee met new Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Cui Jianchun at Government House today.
 

Welcoming Mr Cui’s assumption of office in Hong Kong, Mr Lee thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR for their constant support for the Hong Kong SAR Government, and for their assistance and care for Hong Kong citizens who need to seek help overseas.
 

Mr Lee said the Hong Kong SAR Government has received considerable assistance and support from the office in such matters as facilitating the arrangement of overseas visits by Hong Kong SAR delegations to promote Hong Kong and expand business opportunities, pressing for the city’s early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and arranging for young public officers from Hong Kong to work in the United Nations as Chinese personnel.
 

The Chief Executive also expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the office for their support throughout the passage of local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR and their issuance of timely and strong rebuttals against the smears and attacks by foreign governments and politicians.
 

Mr Lee reiterated that with the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on March 23, the Hong Kong SAR has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility of legislating for Article 23 of the Basic Law.
 

He said that moving forward the Hong Kong SAR Government will focus fully on economic development, whilst leveraging Hong Kong’s unique advantages in enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world. He added that it will seize opportunities both in China and globally and give full play to its role as a super connector and super value-adder to extend co-operation and exchanges with other countries, with a view to showcasing the successful implementation of “one country, two systems”.
 

Mr Lee stressed that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to join hands with leaders and representatives from the industrial, business and professional sectors to organise outbound delegations to explore opportunities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, the Middle East, and other promising markets.
 

Mr Lee said he believes that under Mr Cui’s leadership, the office will continue to support Hong Kong to integrate into the nation’s development, consolidate and enhance its advantages as an international city and explore a broader scope for development externally, whilst telling good stories about Hong Kong and the “one country, two systems” principle.