A panoramic view of the financial area in Hong Kong. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
The speech by Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, is widely seen as a reminder that Beijing wants Hong Kong people to put aside their differences and to work together.
Civic leaders and political analysts said this is also the wish of most Hong Kong people who witnessed - sometimes in horror - civil disturbances which rocked the city for nearly a month.
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In any other place, street politics would never be allowed to replace effective governance
Song Sio-chong, Political analyst
They argue that now the extradition law amendment bill has been suspended, Hong Kong people should unite behind the government to address many pressing social and economic issues.
In his speech, Wang clearly stated that the central government hopes the executive branch and the Legislative Council, which were almost paralyzed during the protests, would get back to normal soon, political analyst Song Sio-chong told China Daily.
Song said the central government never wavered in its pledge to support the special administrative region government under the leadership of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. Her government has been exercising law-based governance, he noted.
“In any other place, street politics would never be allowed to replace effective governance,” added Song, a professor at the Research Center of Hong Kong and Macao Basic Law at Shenzhen University. That is also why Wang called on society to reunite and move forward, he said.
The speech was also a rebuke of the call by opposition politicians and other for the removal of the chief executive, her advisers in the Executive Council and other government officials, explained Song. Beijing has made it clear again it expects Lam to continue leading the government in restoring law and order and moving forward.
Echoing his views was Tam Yiu-chung, sole Hong Kong member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Tam said Wang's remarks underscored the importance of the city’s rule of law and stability.
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Barrister Lawrence Ma Yan-kwok, who is also chairman of the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation, said he agreed with Wang’s remarks. There is widespread agreement that the rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong society, Ma said.
He said the rule of law was seriously challenged by the violent actions of some demonstrators.
Wang’s remarks delivered a positive message that the central government cares about Hong Kong’s future and would spare no efforts in safeguarding its prosperity and stability, Ma said.
Contact the writer at luisliu@chinadailyhk.com
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