CE To Focus On 'rectifying Mistakes' In Society

The Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, said she will spend the next year or two "rectifying mistakes" in society, including strengthening the education of both students and their parents, as well as monitoring civil servants.

Speaking on an interview with the pro-Beijing Phoenix TV on Thursday night, Carrie Lam said she's extremely relieved that the national security law has restored peace in the city and brought back the "familiar Hong Kong".

However, she said she's "heartbroken" to see thousands of young people arrested for their participation in anti-government protests over the past year.

Moving forward, on what could be done to "set things right" in society, Lam said there's a need to strengthen students' knowledge about the country, adding that efforts will also be made to boost the education of parents.

“Because it is very wrong for parents to attend rallies or even violent protests with their children”, she said.

The CE also highlighted the need to better monitor civil servants and adopt a zero tolerance approach towards any anti-government behaviour.

In terms of the media, Lam said while there's room for their coverage to be more objective and fair, it won't be easy to "rectify their mistakes" as Hong Kong is an open society and the Basic Law promises freedom of the press.

She called on media firms to take it upon themselves to maintain impartiality.

In response to those remarks, Journalists' Association chairman Chris Yeung expressed concern that the government could introduce new legislation to rein in what it sees as a hostile media.

He also warned of self-censorship.

"Basically, she's trying to say that the media are not fair or balanced in their reports, and to us, I think the media just do what they have been doing in a professional manner but not try to second-guess what the government or what the police would like to see in our reporting," Yeung said. "If we start doing so, we will be actually doing self-censorship among our own work."

Also in the interview with Phoenix, the Chief Executive again lashed out at the US government for imposing sanctions on her and other principal officials over the national security law, calling Washington "unreasonable".

When asked if her family – especially her younger son who was studying at Harvard University – was affected, Lam simply said her family is very understanding.

“They understand and are willing to make some sacrifices”, she said.

The Hong Kong leader also spoke of her recent decision to renounce her honorary fellowship at Cambridge University, saying she had never cared about such honours in the first place.

“When the university offered it to me, the Dean of the college told me that the fellowship would be conducive to strengthening ties between Cambridge and the country”, she said.

“It was only after hearing them mention ‘the country’ that I decided to accept the fellowship”, the CE said.

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