See what you did, you broke it, you broke Carrie Lam’s heart.
Well, by you, we mean people that mention the issue of Hong Kong independence, most recently student leaders during recent events to mark the start of the term.
Addressing reporters today prior to the executive council meeting, the chief executive called discussion of such topics on university campuses an “unhealthy trend”, and that she was “very heartbroken”
As such, Lam criticized student leaders for spreading the “absurd” and “extremely regrettable” message.
“I urge vice chancellors and students who see any unreasonable or unlawful activities to speak out, don’t assume that this situation will go away, and the SAR government will continue to deal with any breaches of the Basic Law in accordance with the law.”
Lam’s remarks were the latest recent official slap-down independence discussion following comments by Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) student union president Au Cheuk-hei and other student leaders.
According to RFA, Au, speaking an an inauguration event yesterday, asserted students right to discuss independence as a matter of free speech.
He also mentioned the incident last September, where pro-independence banners appeared at CUHK and subsequently other universities around the city.
His remarks followed a speech last Wednesday by Cheung Yam, a student leader at the Education University, who, according to the SCMP, said “Hong Kong independence is the only way to build a place that is truly based on the interests of Hongkongers”.
Yesterday, both education secretary, Kevin Yeung, and Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung, warned against raising the issue on campuses and in schools, wrote RTHK.
Yeung said it was up the universities to “follow up” on such remarks, though didn’t clarify what consequences students should face.
Long a flashpoint, the issue has been repeatedly in the news recently following a decision by authorities to ban the Hong Kong National Party (HKNP) and a subsequence controversy over a speech at the Foreign Correspondents Club by the party’s leader, Andy Chan.
