​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the new Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Cui Jianchun, at Government House today (April 17).
Mr Lee welcomed Mr Cui's assumption of office in Hong Kong. He thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR (OCMFA) for their continuous support for the HKSAR Government, as well as for their assistance and care to Hong Kong citizens who need to seek help overseas. Noting that the HKSAR Government and the OCMFA have been engaging in close communication and co-operation, Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government has received considerable assistance and support from the OCMFA in such matters as facilitating the arrangement of overseas visits by HKSAR delegations to promote Hong Kong and expand business opportunities, pressing ahead with Hong Kong's early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and arranging for HKSAR young public officers to work in the United Nations as Chinese personnel.
Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the OCMFA for their support throughout the process of the local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR and their issuance of timely and strong rebuttals against the smears and attacks by foreign governments and politicians towards Hong Kong. Mr Lee noted that with the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance on March 23, the HKSAR has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility of legislating for Article 23 of the Basic Law. The HKSAR Government will fully focus on economic development, actively leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, seize both China and global opportunities and give full play to its role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" to extend Hong Kong's co-operation with other countries, expand and facilitate international exchanges, with a view to showcasing the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong to the world, Mr Lee added.
Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government will continue to join hands with leaders and representatives from the industrial, business and professional sectors to organise outbound delegations to actively explore business opportunities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Middle East, and other promising markets, promoting commerce, tourism, and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and overseas.
Mr Lee said he believes that under Mr Cui's leadership, the OCMFA will continue to support Hong Kong to integrate into the national development, consolidate and enhance its advantages as an international city and explore a broader scope for development externally, telling good stories of Hong Kong and the "one country, two systems" principle.
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