Media Caused Officials To Play Safe, Says Carrie Lam

Outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Saturday the media and key opinion leaders are to blame for a lack of innovation from government officials, saying public servants have been undermined by the political environment.

In an exclusive interview with RTHK, she also said the national security law wasn't the reason why people's freedoms had been limited. She said this would become clear once Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.

Lam said officials had been playing safe in recent years with their ideas, in part because of the political environment - and that wasn't just limited to friction in the legislature.

"It also includes the media, and some key opinion leaders. They exaggerate what officials say and their policy measures. After a period of time, the officials would say, 'Okay, I won't do anything then. I'll just complete my duties, and not try to make breakthroughs or be innovative. Because they involve risks,'" she told RTHK.

Lam said officials and civil servants had been "targeted", but she thinks they're capable of performing better.

The outgoing CE noted that, after their oaths of allegiance last year, civil servants better understood their roles under the One Country, Two Systems principle.

While several key officials, led by incoming Chief Executive John Lee, have risen up the ranks of the disciplined forces, Lam said administrative officers would still play important roles "in the short term" as they supplemented the disciplined forces well.

Lam also stressed that Hong Kong's press freedom, and freedom of assembly, were only limited because of "self censorship" and Covid restrictions, not the national security law.

She said she can't see any changes to people's freedoms, and she can't control the worries of journalists, while blaming those whom she called "people with ulterior motives" for linking the issues up with the security legislation.

After her departure from government, Lam said she and her husband have rented a place to live in Hong Kong.

"Of course sometimes I will be on the mainland or even overseas, because both of my sons are not in Hong Kong. But Hong Kong is my home," she said.

"When I got more spare time, I can go to the Palace Museum, the M+ Museum, enjoy a Cantonese opera, have a walk in the harbour front."

When asked whether she would accept a new role to serve the country, Lam said she won't consider this as she's not "someone who fights for things", saying to a degree, she didn't fight for the roles as Chief Secretary and Chief Executive.