The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, met the visiting Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom (UK), Mr Mark Field, this afternoon (August 24). 
 
     Extending her welcome to Mr Field on his first visit to Hong Kong since assuming the position, Mrs Lam said the occasion was a timely one as it is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and she would be making her first official visit as the Chief Executive to the UK the following month. Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong has overcome challenges and successfully implemented the unprecedented "one country, two systems" in the past two decades. She reiterated that the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary are as robust as ever and highlighted that eight overseas non-permanent judges in the Court of Final Appeal are distinguished judges from the UK. She added that as the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, she would faithfully discharge her constitutional duties to safeguard these essential core values.
 
     Mrs Lam also shared with Mr Field her vision for Hong Kong's future development under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area development, as well as her pledge to give the young people in Hong Kong greater opportunities to participate in public affairs. She noted that there are many sectors in which Hong Kong and the UK could explore new or further collaboration, and said she looked forward to strengthening the strong ties between the two places in the future.

Ends/Thursday, August 24, 2017
Issued at HKT 20:28

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