The atmosphere in Hong Kong has changed for the worse but the chief executive should not shoulder the blame, the city's former representative in London said.
Mutual trust in society was falling and suspicion increasing because people wanted to protect their own interests as the economy recovered, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said yesterday.
Mrs Lam was posted to London in late 2004. She was promoted to her new position in January.
She said it was inevitable society would become politicised but this would not affect social harmony. 'When the economy is improving, people want to protect their own interests,' Mrs Lam told a media gathering.
She said Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen should not be blamed despite the change in atmosphere since he took over from Tung Chee-hwa.
'Demand from the public has become higher and the government is, of course, expected to respond quicker.