Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (center), together with Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Peter Lam Kin-ngok (right), and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah (left), meet the media in Bangkok, Thailand on Nov 19, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu thanked President Xi Jinping on Saturday for his care and encouragement for the SAR after briefing the president on the city’s current situation.
Lee made the remarks while meeting journalists in Bangkok, where he was leading a high-level Hong Kong delegation to the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in the Thai capital.
Lee said he sent greetings to Xi at their meeting, saying the president listened attentively and encouraged the chief executive to continue with the hard work. “I could fully feel Xi’s care for Hong Kong throughout the conversation,” Lee said.
Lee, who saw Xi off at Bangkok’s international airport on Saturday afternoon, was also there to receive Xi when the president arrived in Thailand on Nov 17 for the APEC summit.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said he had a brief discussion with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bangkok about specific developments in Hong Kong and Wang also expressed support for the HKSAR
Lee also said he had a brief discussion with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bangkok about specific developments in Hong Kong and Wang also expressed support for the SAR. “I’m also very grateful for Wang’s concern for the matters we discussed, and he gave his encouragement for our work,” Lee said.
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Wang agreed that the HKSAR government’s efforts in implementing law-based governance and “one country, two systems” are in line with the nation’s requirements.
Lee also told the media he had used the opportunity to tell the good stories of Hong Kong during his visit to Thailand.
He said he has given world leaders a better understanding of the SAR’s actual situation, and they’re very optimistic about Hong Kong’s return to the world stage.
Lee also told the Thai business community about the development opportunities in Hong Kong and he had reached a consensus with four foreign heads of state to continue strengthening economic and trade cooperation between their countries and Hong Kong.
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The Hong Kong delegation, which included business leaders, began their visit to Bangkok on Nov 17. Lee returned to Hong Kong on Sunday evening.