CE: People-centered approach following fire is in line with Constitution

The recent fatal fire in Tai Po has brought out the essence of the Constitution and highlighted the importance of the rule of law, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Thursday, pledging that all government action will be people-centered.

Lee made his remarks at a half-day seminar on Constitution Day, which falls on Dec 4. The seminar, jointly held by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, was themed "The Constitution and the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation" this year.

Officials from the central government warned that anti-China elements who have been exploiting the tragedy to create chaos will be resolutely punished by the law.

The applause session at the seminar was cancelled because of the solemnity of the circumstances, and those attending observed a minute's silence in memory of the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court. The tragedy has claimed at least 159 lives.

During his speech, Lee offered his condolences to those affected by the fire, and vowed that the government will conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the fire and its rapid spread, and will scrutinize current policies and clarify responsibilities to ensure they align with residents' expectations.

Lee said that the tragedy has strengthened his belief in the rule of law and the constitutional spirit. "Today we reaffirm the importance of the Constitution (and) emphasize that every government decision and action must center on the welfare of the people," Lee said, adding that the government will transform the lessons learnt into concrete measures to bolster the city's safety.

He said there are three areas the HKSAR must focus on: upholding the Constitution and the Basic Law and fulfilling constitutional duties through concrete actions; better integration into the overall development of the country; and serving as a bridge between Chinese culture and cultures worldwide, telling good stories about the successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" policy.

Lee also referred to the upcoming Legislative Council election on Sunday, and said that the government needs ambitious and capable lawmakers to jointly assist those affected by the fire and drive reforms, thereby building a better Hong Kong. He called on residents to vote on Sunday.

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Echoing Lee, Liu Guangyuan, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that conducting the LegCo general election as scheduled is in line with the spirit of the Constitution and the rule of law, and is conducive to social stability and post-disaster reconstruction.

He said that the central government has been deeply concerned about the fire, and that the chief executive and the HKSAR government had responded effectively to the incident.

"I believe that with the joint efforts of all parties, Hong Kong can manage both disaster relief and the general election well," Liu said.

He added that the anti-China and other destabilizing forces who have tried to exploit the tragedy will face severe consequences under the law.

Han Dayuan, a member of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and a professor at the Renmin University of China Law School, delivered a keynote speech at the seminar, saying that the country's development is closely connected to everyone in China, and requires everyone's efforts.

Han said that the Constitution is a record of the nation's historical memory, adding that Constitution Day is more than just a ceremony — it carries the consensus of society and its aspirations for the future and ambitions for a better life.

Han said that the "one country, two systems" policy has entered a new phase of development and is a significant contributor to human civilization. He appealed to Chinese people to promote the spirit of the Chinese nation, unite social consensus through the Constitution, and enhance the SAR's prosperity and stability through adopting a broader perspective and ideology.

The unity of the nation is central to achieving national rejuvenation, and the Constitution provides a solid foundation for China's ultimate unification, providing robust legal support for building a powerful country, said Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.

In 2014, the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress designated Dec 4 as Constitution Day. This year marks the 12th Constitution Day and the ninth year that the HKSAR government has held a Constitution Day seminar.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com