By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-21 04:41:27 | Updated at 2025-01-21 09:51:27
5 hours ago
Hong Kong’s leader has said he hopes to promote “positive relations” with the United States under the new administration of President Donald Trump, but warned against any attempts to interfere in the city’s political and judicial affairs.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday just hours after Trump’s inauguration, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the new US leadership could serve as a “good starting point” for Hong Kong-US relations.
“I think there are a lot of commonalities and common interests between Hong Kong and the US, and with the new president in office I hope to see that there will be good efforts to promote positive relations,” Lee said.
“But of course, we will always prepare for the worst, and we will ensure that the rights of our people and companies will be protected.”
The city leader added that “any political interference, any inappropriate action against Hong Kong will not work”.
Trump, who was inaugurated to his second term on Monday, has threatened to impose tariffs on all Chinese imports, while analysts also warned that Hong Kong could come under greater scrutiny from a US cabinet filled with China hawks.
Trump had also previously suggested that he would be able to secure the release of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, the former owner of the defunct Apple Daily tabloid who is currently standing trial in Hong Kong for charges of foreign collusion and sedition.
