Hong Kong’s leader sees land of opportunity across the border, and says economic integration with mainland China will proceed despite violent protests
- Chief Executive Carrie Lam sees bright future through connection with Greater Bay Area, and Belt and Road Initiative
- City’s leader acknowledges divisions in society, but says they can only be addressed when calm has been restored
Hong Kong’s leader has laid out a future for the city filled with opportunity in the Greater Bay Area and through the Belt and Road Initiative, even while a growing anti-mainland China sentiment sweeps through the city.
On Wednesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor vowed to find solutions to the deep-seated problems exposed by the anti-government protests that have gripped Hong Kong for more than four months.
But she said her top priority was to end the violence, adding the central government’s support for the city's economic integration with the mainland had not changed.
“Hong Kong is playing an active part in our country’s two far-reaching initiatives, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and the Belt and Road,” she said at the Asia House Future of Trade Conference.
“In each of these national developments, Hong Kong sees long-term opportunities.”
Lam's remarks on Wednesday came a day before she heads to Shanghai and Nanjing in a visit due to end on Tuesday, during which she is expected to attend the opening ceremony of the 2nd China International Import Expo.
