2019 left people angry, anxious and heartbroken: CE

2019 left people angry, anxious and heartbroken: CE

Wendy Wong reports

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that she bears an "unshirkable responsibility" for the months of protests that rocked Hong Kong this year, promising in a video posted on Facebook to find a way out of the current deadlock.



In the three-minute video titled “Treasure Hong Kong… our home”, Lam acknowledged that the protests, sparked by her attempt to amend the city's extradition laws, have left people heartbroken, anxious, disappointed and angry.



She said that as the city’s Chief Executive, she has to take responsibility for the unrest, and the government must admit its “systemic inadequacies” and acknowledge the deep-seated conflicts that have been building up for years.



Lam added that the government will uphold the "One Country, Two Systems" principle, as well as the rule of law.



The CE said Hong Kong people have overcome a lot of difficulties in the past with their persistence and wisdom. She said she believes they can do the same this time, adding that she hopes Hong Kong can “restart”, and there can be reconciliation in the new year.



Some of her top officials, including Financial Secretary Paul Chan and Housing Secretary Frank Chan also appeared in the video.



They talked about what the government is doing to help the business sector, improve people’s livelihoods and to increase the number of flats in the city.