Policy Address To Be Delayed For Beijing Talks: CE

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Monday that she will postpone her Policy Address, probably until the end of November, so she has time to ask the central government for help with the recovery of Hong Kong’s economy.

Lam made the announcement on Monday morning, just two days before she was due to deliver her annual address and after mainland media announced that President Xi Jinping will make a major speech in Shenzhen on Wednesday.

Lam said she will be travelling to Shenzhen to attend events to mark 40th anniversary of the country's first special economic zone.

But at a hastily arranged press conference, Lam said she is delaying the Policy Address to hold more talks with Beijing about the SAR's recovery.

She explained that after she had submitted a series of proposals to Beijing, mainland officials said they would like to discuss them with her in person, before the central government gives its final approval.

"It is not a matter of waiting for directions. It is a matter of responding to a positive indication from the central government that they have taken full account of the Chief Executive's recommendations. That they really want to facilitate those policy measures," she said.

"This is a very good opportunity that no Chief Executive would forgo," she added.

Lam said the pandemic has taken a toll on Hong Kong’s economy, and its recovery relies on the mainland – which she said had seen a V-shape rebound in its economy since Covid-19 hit.

The CE said that she would like to include whatever assistance Beijing offers in her next policy speech.

However, Lam said since this will depend on the progress of the talks, she cannot give an exact date for the postponement, saying only that she hopes she can deliver the address by the end of November.

She said this will not affect the work of the Legislative Council, noting that previous Chief Executives Tung Chee-hwa and CY Leung had both announced their blueprints in the month of January.

Lam also revealed that she was not expecting to hold talks with Xi on Wednesday.

"I have no scheduled meeting with President Xi during his visit to Shenzhen. My only purpose of going to Shenzhen is upon invitation," she said.