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HK freedoms assured: CE


(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said the Central authorities have given assurances that Hong Kong's freedoms will be preserved in the national security legislation.

 

Answering reporters? questions ahead of the Executive Council meeting, Mrs Lam said the assurances were not simply hearsay, adding that waiting for full details of the legislation could ease some people's concerns.

 

?The most important assurance is contained in the articles in the draft decision and also the very clear exposition given by not only the National People's Congress (NPC) leader, but I also understand that several leaders have spoken on this subject during the session of the NPC.

 

?So that is not just sort of hearsay, that is a very clear statement and assurances given by the leaders of the People's Republic of China. But of course for people who still have concerns, they will have to wait for the details to be put in front of them before they could be assured.

 

?Some of the things that you have said, about Mainland agencies coming down to arrest people (taking part in) protests and they will be arrested for calling for the Chief Executive to step down, at the moment are in your imagination or things that have been said by some people. We are a very free society so for the time being, people have this freedom to say whatever they want to say.

 

?But ultimately what is to be provided in this piece of legislation is for all of us to see in order to be assured that Hong Kong's freedoms will be preserved and Hong Kong's vibrancy and core values in terms of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the various rights and freedoms enjoyed by the people will continue to be there.?

 

Mrs Lam also reiterated that rights and freedoms are not absolute.

 

?When you quoted the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights, all these international covenants do also confess and admit the need for national security.

 

?If we want to protect the majority of the people, then if the minority of the people - indeed a very small minority of people - are going to breach the law, to organise and participate in terrorist activities to subvert the state power, then of course they have to be bounded by the needed legislation.?

 

The Chief Executive pointed out that over 10,000 public order events are held in the city every year which is proof of Hong Kong's vibrancy and respect for rights and freedoms.

 

?Protest itself is an expression of freedoms and rights and opinions - if it is done in a legal way.?


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