Pansy Ho: HK to retain key development role in the Bay Area

Pansy Ho Chiu-king, a prominent businesswoman based in Hong Kong and Macao, said Hong Kong will retain its driving role in the development of the 11-city Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with the city again becoming a stable society under the National Security Law. In an interview with China Daily, the group executive chairperson and managing director of Shun Tak Holdings said she looks forward to sharing with the international community Hong Kong's gradual return to normalcy from the protest violence, among other favorable changes.

In September 2019, Ho addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council, telling the world about the months-long violence and chaos that the city had endured — a stark contrast to Western countries' and media's portrayal of the situation in the city as brave young people fighting for freedom.

"These radical protesters carry out violent acts in the name of human rights, but they are, in fact, violating the basic human rights of expression, safety, and livelihood of other citizens who neither are part of this group nor share their radical views and tactics," said Ho in her capacity as the chairwoman of the Hong Kong Federation of Women.

She cited her own experience of encountering rioters who attempted to silence her with "vicious threats and provocative remarks".

Recalling that experience a year later, Ho said she hopes to help express Hong Kong people's true views, especially on behalf of the women's group, a non-political, non-governmental organization.

She will continue to use such platforms to communicate with the international community to show the changes in Hong Kong, including the National Security Law, which took effect on June 30 and is regarded as an antidote to the prolonged social unrest in the city.

The people of Hong Kong share the same wish with their mainland compatriots that the international community should respect China's sovereignty, and understand that Hong Kong is clearly part of China, a fact beyond doubt, she said.