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Hong Kong’s leader cannot be ‘overly limited’ by local laws and Beijing will punish corruption, Lam says in dismissing anti-bribery pledge
- Legislation that constrains chief executive goes ‘against our political system’, city leader tells radio audience
- But ‘no need to worry’ as the central government monitors her office and will ‘definitely see’ any acts of corruption
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Beijing’s watchful eye is enough to guarantee that Hong Kong’s chief executive will be punished for any corrupt acts, the city’s leader has said, underscoring her belief that extending anti-bribery laws to her own position would weaken the role under the constitution.
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Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Saturday offered a new defence for rowing back on her 2017 manifesto promise to broaden the legislation, saying a deeper understanding of China’s constitution and Hong Kong’s Basic Law – as well as the relationship between the local and central governments – had changed her perspective.
Lam said she had come to the conclusion that amending the anti-bribery laws was the wrong move, rejecting suggestions that her stance, reiterated to lawmakers this week, amounted to a failure to take action as pledged.
Being overly restricted by local laws, even ones focused on public accountability, would hamper her ability to fulfil her constitutional role, she said.
“But it doesn’t mean the post will be free from any monitoring, because the chief executive is also a central government official,” Lam told a radio show.
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“No one needs to worry about it. If the chief executive is involved in corruption, the central government will definitely see it.”
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