Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam hailed the "One Country, Two Systems" principle and called on Hong Kong residents to firmly support and defend it.

Lam made the remarks when attending the opening ceremony of a large-scale exhibition commemorating Zhu De, one of the principal leaders of the Communist Party of China and the People's Republic of China, and also one of the founders of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

She attributed Hong Kong's lasting prosperity and stability to the great conception of "One Country, Two Systems" and once again appealed to end violence and restore order so as to put Hong Kong back on track.

Lu Xinning, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), echoed Lam's comments, stressing that people should not discard their national consciousness while seeking free will. Similarly, democracy should not be built at the expanse of rule of law and national unity, Lu said.

He called for dialogue instead of disruption, hoping that Hong Kong residents can stay united with the SAR government and the Hong Kong police and tackle the severe situation jointly.

(Cover: Carrie Lam attends the opening ceremony of a large-scale exhibition commemorating Zhu De, Hong Kong, China, August 28, 2019. /Photo via China News Agency)