'High Autonomy Doesn't Mean Beijing Has No Power'

Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday rejected claims that Beijing has interfered in local affairs and said a high degree of autonomy for the SAR doesn't mean the "central government has given up its power and authority on Hong Kong affairs".

Speaking to the media at a hurriedly called briefing to announce her administration's pandemic package funding request to Legco, the CE ended up speaking for most of the time on the row surrounding a Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) statement on Monday.

The HKMAO had suggested some pro-democracy lawmakers could be guilty of misconduct in public office for holding bills up in Legco by filibustering, inviting criticism that it is meddling in SAR affairs.

“I want to refute categorically that any comments made by the two offices constitutes interference,” Lam said.

She added that the Secretary for Justice makes decisions on who should be prosecuted, without interference from anyone, including the CE.

The HKMAO statement had singled out Civic Party's Dennis Kwok, who has been presiding over House Committee meetings in the absence of an elected chairman.

Lam said Hong Kong is under the direct control of the central people's government as a special administrative region, and it is therefore natural that Beijing could have concerns about matters in the SAR.

She said some legislators have travelled overseas asking foreign governments or parliaments to interfere with the internal affairs of Hong Kong, even going as far as to call for sanctions against Hong Kong.

I think this is really a blatant interference into Hong Kong affairs, she said.

She also condemned pan-democrats for what she said was "malicious filibustering with no regard for the people of Hong Kong".

Lam announced that the government is applying to Legco for billions of dollars in funding and had filed the relevant papers to the council. She said she hoped lawmakers could discuss the funding this Friday.