Letters | Trust in Hong Kong government slips away as Carrie Lam and police embrace China tactics

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam leaves for an Executive Council meeting after meeting the press, at the Hong Kong government headquarters in Admiralty on May 26. Photo: Robert Ng

Published: 8:00am, 29 May 2020Updated: 8:03am, 29 May 2020

It is unbelievably sad to see the deterioration of Hong Kong governance by our China-appointed chief executive who seems unable to communicate with or listen to anyone. Her governance appears to mirror the style on the mainland. Hopefully, by the time she has finished her term, the mass of Hong Kong people will not have been imprisoned, as certainly seems to be her administration’s objective.

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has also managed to change the operation and image of our police force. She is putting them in an impossible situation, policing a political matter which could have been handled by someone who understands and could bring the people together.

To see events on TV, one could imagine some of our police having spent time on the mainland learning their violent techniques. Is that a responsibility of our current police commissioner, allegedly a hardliner? It is sad also since we have always in the past seen respect shown by the public for the police and vice versa. But now?

The chief executive urges us to put our minds at rest, as this mainland-imposed legislation will not damage the judiciary or freedoms previously enjoyed in Hong Kong. We have no choice but to wait and see. Unfortunately, recent and past experience does not build trust.

Tony Johnston, Wan Chai

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