Retrospectively, during the whole process of the Chief Executive Election, some people have stressed on [a candidate's] capability of governing, some others on so-called popularity. However, today after the election, when we open up our breadth of vision and take a broad view, we can ask ourselves: Can the SAR possibly pursue its future development independent of "one country two systems", independent of the national 13th Five-Year Plan and the One Belt One Road strategy, independent of the 1.3 billion compatriots, and independent of national sovereignty and security? The answer cannot but be "No!". Hence, if the future Chief Executive is not highly trusted and supported by the Central Government and cannot well communicate and cooperate with the Mainland, will Hong Kong still be able to keep its "good luck"? Will Hong Kong still have a bright future? The answer is self-evident.
Therefore, the Central Government set the four requirements for the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam who meets these four requirements was elected by highest number of votes, and after the election, social atmosphere became peaceful with citizens rekindling their hopes, all these prove an important point, that is, from now on the SAR must take more seriously the "one country two systems" principle and the Central Government's constitutional status, never again seeing the Central Government's necessary concerns as "interventions" let alone separating the SAR's interests from the nation's overall interests to give any chance to "independence for Hong Kong".
The establishment of the four requirements and the election of Carrie Lam by highest number of votes have set a new "yardstick" for the whole SAR and the SAR Government's governance. Loving the country and Hong Kong, being trusted by the Central Government, being capable of governing and enjoying support of Hong Kong people, these four requirements are not contradictory to each other but instead form a mutually complementary whole. Hong Kong has returned to the Motherland for nearly 20 years. It can no longer remain ambiguous on such cardinal issues of right and wrong and matters of principle, can no longer let the opposition confuse and poison people's minds with their anti-China and trouble-making fallacies and get its own way. The content and spirit of the four requirements should be upheld and carried forward in the SAR from now on.
No doubt, the one who has benefited the most from this election is Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. Not only has she won the "throne" of the Chief Executive, but she also has been toughened and inspired through the election battle. It may be believed that Carrie Lam's recognition of the four requirements were less profound before the election than after it. Likewise, as she said in her victory address, before the election she had thought herself understood everything given her years of experience in the government. But in running the election, she had heard of many people's heartfelt wishes, learned and understood many new things and different approaches. "I have seen my own shortcomings."
Having learned how to be modest and self-critical, Carrie Lam has also set steps and visions for future works, including to immediately meet Legislative Council members from various political parties and to improve executive-legislative relations. Her governing team will open to able and virtuous personages who will be recruited on the basis of their intellectual ability only. Candidates from all political parties are welcome to join.
Here we extend out congratulations to Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on her being elected as the SAR's fifth-term Chief Executive by highest number of votes. All Hong Kong people will be full of hope to march forward together with you and jointly build a more beautiful Hong Kong.
(End)
27 March 2017
