Teo Chee Hean expresses appreciation for outgoing Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam's strong support for Singapore
Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan with Chief Executive Carrie Lam. (Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information)
SINGAPORE: Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean expressed appreciation for outgoing Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s strong support towards Singapore while on a working visit to the territory.Â
They also discussed ways that Singapore and Hong could continue to deepen cooperation, including in areas such as public service exchanges and education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a press release on Monday (May 30).Â
Mr Teo, who is Coordinating Minister for National Security is in Hong Kong from May 29 to Jun 1 and met Mrs Lam together with Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
MFA said that Mrs Lam and Mr Teo reaffirmed the longstanding and close partnership between Singapore and Hong Kong, which is underpinned by regular high-level exchanges, strong economic cooperation and people-to-people links.
Mr Teo also expressed confidence in Hong Kong’s development under the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework.Â
"Hong Kong will continue to benefit from the economic opportunities arising from its close integration with mainland China while maintaining its international outlook," said Mr Teo.
The outgoing chief executive will complete her five-year term on Jun 30.Â
Mr Teo will meet Hong Kong Chief Executive-elect John Lee on Wednesday, said MFA.Â
The incoming chief executive was the only candidate in a Beijing-backed race to succeed Mrs Lam, winning more than 99 per cent of votes from the 1,461 member committee.
Lee will take office on Jul 1, the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from Britain.
During his visit, Mr Teo and Dr Balakrishnan also met former chief executive and vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying.Â
Mr Teo and Mr Leung exchanged views on how Singapore and Hong Kong could advance collaboration in new areas, including in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
They also reaffirmed the strong ties between Singapore and Hong Kong.
