Beijing’s liaison office free to do its own thing, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says after ownership of leading publisher revealed
Former Sino United Publishing chairman Lee Cho-jat confirms office’s role in company
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday that the work of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong should not be interfered with as long as it is law-abiding, after a former head of the city’s biggest publishing conglomerate confirmed that the agency controlled the company.
The programme, Hong Kong Connection, found the liaison office owned the conglomerate through a multilayered network of companies.
“SUP is a state asset, and the liaison office is the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, so the office should be commissioned by Beijing to coordinate and manage these units,” Lee said in response.
But he insisted that SUP’s mission “is to publish”. There was no political motive behind its business operations and decision-making, he said.