Opinion | The sensible, constructive speech Carrie Lam should be making right now for all Hong Kong’s sake

Back in August, I, the self-appointed speech writer for Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, wrote her a speech that (many kind readers have mentioned) would have avoided the cost to the city of hundreds of millions of dollars in direct damage; billions, if you include lost gross domestic product.

The idea was to write a calming speech acceptable both to the people of Hong Kong and to Beijing, which as it happens, has not been tried. We did a couple of drafts but, unfortunately, her former assistant must have picked up the uncompromising, inflammatory and solution-free speech from the photocopier, rather than mine.

It came as not an inconsiderable surprise that Lam gave the same speech on Tuesday following the pro-Beijing camp’s hiding at the district council polls – as if nothing had happened. The redoubtable Lady Bracknell might have said; “To do it once, Mrs Lam, may be regarded as misfortune, to do it twice looks like carelessness.” So I thought I would pass on the right speech – suitably updated – to dampen the fires of the demonstrators.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, thank you for coming. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government is aware that the district council elections had a more political element than is normal. The SAR government recognises that there have been deficiencies in governance, and unhappiness with the time taken to deal with the current unstable environment. We have listened to the views of the public with an open mind and seriously reflected on them.

The government has already dealt with several of the issues behind protesters’ five demands but not all of them are in my control, so we have applied our thinking to matters over which we do have control. The SAR government has always wished for calm and to use the resources of the government for the benefit of the Hong Kong people.

The SAR government is today establishing an independent committee of inquiry into the 2019 disturbances. It will be wide ranging, led by a senior overseas judge, and tasked to investigate all aspects of the matter. It will not be directed against any particular group. We must learn from these disturbances and ensure that it never happens again.