CE Offers Deng Xiaoping Quote To Back Law Move

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has dismissed criticism that Beijing's move to impose a national security law on Hong Kong violates the blueprint drawn up for the country decades ago by paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, citing one of his speeches as evidence to the contrary.

Veteran democrat Martin Lee had earlier accused the central government of ignoring the rules set out by Deng under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle by drawing up its own national security legislation for Hong Kong.

But in a Facebook post, Lam cited a speech given by Deng in 1987, in which he said "it’s unfeasible to let Hong Kong people govern everything".

"The central government doesn’t have to interfere in the city’s internal affairs. However, will incidents undermining the country’s basic interests happen in the SAR? Should Beijing intervene if it happens? … If the central government gives up all the authority, there might be chaos," Deng is quoted as saying.

"For example, if people criticise the Community Party or China after 1997, we let them criticise. But if it morphs into action, turning Hong Kong into a base camp against the mainland, what should be done? The central government must interfere," he is said to have added.

Lam said these remarks by Deng should not be deliberately overlooked.

The CE said looking back at the violence in Hong Kong over the past year and the recent "interference by foreign forces", people should admire Deng as he was clearly a far-sighted leader.