Download
Carrie Lam: Hong Kong has now seen stability under new law
Carrie Lam
02:51

Editor's Note: Decision Makers is a global platform for decision makers to share their insights on events shaping today's world. Carrie Lam is the Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Opinions expressed in this video are hers, and not necessarily those of CGTN. 

On March 11, China's National People's Congress adopted a decision on improving Hong Kong's electoral system, which grabbed attention both at home and abroad. How has Hong Kong changed under the new rules? Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) shared her insights on Hong Kong's latest development.

CGTN: During China's Two Sessions in March, you said time will tell what effect the new legislation improvement will have on Hong Kong. So how do you see the changes it has brought?

Carrie Lam: I think as far as improvements to the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, you still have to wait and see because we are still in the process of putting into local legislation the important decisions and amendments to Annex I and Annex II of the Basic Law passed by the National People's Congress Standing Committee on March 30.

The three rounds of very important elections have yet to take place. So the first election will be the 1,500 members of the Election Committee, which will take place in September, followed by the Legislative Council election and then the Chief Executive election next March.

So whether the improved electoral system will return the suitable candidates who are patriotic, who have Hong Kong's overall interests at heart, we have to wait and see, but I'm pretty confident.

But what has obviously changed is that under the National Security Law, we have now seen stability. We have now seen Hong Kong people recovering the freedom to speak their mind, to go out and just to forget about all the chaos that has haunted Hong Kong for almost a year, since the latter half of 2019, and I think that is a very obvious change and that is a change for the better, especially for overseas investors.

So I've been doing a lot more overseas promotions, sometimes writing on your platform, to speak to the overseas community that Hong Kong will continue to be a very good place for investment because of the law and order that has been restored.

At the same time, upholding human rights and freedoms and the business-friendly environment that Hong Kong used to have. And on top of that, we have the support of the People's Republic of China, and also the very favorable policies provided by the central government.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com.)

Search Trends