CE Brushes Aside Concerns About Xi Directive

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has dismissed concerns that a directive by President Xi Jinping to support innovative research in Hong Kong is tinged with politics, saying some people are reading too much into the president's comments.

President Xi's directive, which was reported on Monday, asked state agencies to support innovation and technology in the SAR, including the transfer of national funding for the city's scientists. But the report also stated that local talent will only be invited to participate in national-level programmes if they “love the country and Hong Kong”.

IT sector legislator Charles Mok told RTHK on Tuesday that this was an unnecessary injection of politics. He also pointed out that Hong Kong has many international institutions and it is not realistic for all experts to be Chinese patriots.

Speaking before the weekly Exco meeting, Lam said the words "love the country and love Hong Kong" in the president's message were just a "matter of terminology".

"But of course, in Hong Kong, we do expect, whether you are a scientist, a researcher or a government official like myself to love the country and Hong Kong,” the Chief Executive said. "There is nothing unusual. Some commentators have read too much into this term."