Former chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said she truly believed the extradition bill proposed in 2019 - which sparked widespread protests and social unrest in the city - is still the right move.
Lam made the remarks during her first interview since stepping down from the top spot, adding that her five-year term was undoubtedly the most challenging and unusual five years since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.
Speaking to Southcn.com, the former Hong Kong leader said it is inevitable that the introduction of the extradition bill will bring fierce tussles and conflicts into the city.
She said the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong” and the system for safeguarding national security were absent when the bill was brought to the Legco by then, coupled with the city’s flawed national education as well as external forces meddling in Hong Kong affairs
All these factors have led to this storm, said Lam.
Meanwhile, the former chief executive said Beijing has never doubted her ability to handle the anti-extradition movement and told her to be fearless with the Central Government backing up the SAR.
She added that mainland officials even cared for her personal health and worried if she could sleep well at night.
Reviewing her five-year term, Lam said she had made the utmost effort to bring together different political parties - including those of the opposition camp, but the process taught her that such connections could only be made under the concept of “One Country, Two Systems.”
She said her work had led Hong Kong into a “deep exploration” to finetune the “One Country, Two Systems.”
When asked by the interviewer if she would take up any new responsibilities to serve the country, Lam said she only wished to promote the concept of “One Country, Two Systems” at key national universities while touring around the motherland.
Separately, Lam was also asked to share how her husband Lam Siu-por supported her along the way.
Lam said her husband has always stayed by her side and had reached a stage where “he does not need to say anything” to show support.
She said she is “very comfortable” with her retirement days now as she can now return to being an ordinary person and play her part as her husband’s wife and the mother of her two sons.
She added that she enjoyed doing groceries at wet markets and making meals for her family.
