‘Regrettable and inappropriate’, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says of Foreign Correspondents’ Club talk by separatist leader Andy Chan

But contrary to remarks by Leung Chun-ying, who said the club rented its premises from the government at ‘token price’, chief executive says the lease has always been at market rate

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam has weighed in on the row over an FCC talk. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 8:00pm, 5 Aug 2018Updated: 1:29pm, 3 Oct 2018

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the city’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) for inviting the founder of a separatist party to give a talk, describing the move as “regrettable and inappropriate”.

Her remarks on Sunday came after her predecessor, Leung Chun-ying, stepped up his attacks on the FCC late on Saturday night, arguing that the club’s move to invite Hong Kong National Party founder Andy Chan Ho-tin – despite objection from Beijing – had “nothing to do with press freedom”.

Leung reminded the club that its iconic building in Central was actually rented from the government “at a token price”.

Andy Chan, founder of the Hong Kong National Party. Photo: Paul Yeung/Bloomberg

But in an apparent attempt to clarify Leung’s remarks, Lam on Sunday said the government had been leasing the premises to the club since 1982 at market rate.

Victor Mallet, the FCC’s first vice-president, also refuted Leung’s claims, saying the club paid “substantial rent”, even “much more” than others in the city.

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