In response to media enquiries on the phone call between the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam and the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Mr Dominic Raab yesterday (August 9), the Chief Executive's Office said the following:

     At the request of the British Consulate-General Hong Kong, Mrs Lam spoke with the new Foreign Secretary of the UK, Mr Raab over the phone yesterday morning (Hong Kong time). During the 20-odd minutes of conversation, Mrs Lam stressed that since Hong Kong's return to the Motherland, "One Country, Two Systems" has been successfully implemented in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and that the rule of law has been the core value of the city.

     Mrs Lam introduced to Mr Raab the background and objectives of the legislative amendment exercise and emphasised that the legislative amendment exercise was put to a complete stop two months ago. She said that while the HKSAR Government respects the diverse views held by members of the public on various issues as well as the freedoms of speech and assembly, it will not let violence and illegal behaviours disrupt public order. She also mentioned to Mr Raab the work being done by the Independent Police Complaints Council in accordance with its statutory functions.

     Mrs Lam pointed out at the end that she and the relevant policy bureaux have been attaching great importance to collaboration between Hong Kong and the UK on areas including trade, economic affairs and culture in the past two years and expressed the hope that bilateral relations can be further strengthened.

Ends/Saturday, August 10, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:44

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