Carrie Lam Photo:Xinhua

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR),said that some young people have wrongly got the idea that opposing the local or central government will help them, and warned that if they violate the "one country" principle, their future could be gloomy.

According to Hong Kong local media, Lam said in an interview on Saturday that since the national security law for Hong Kong was implemented a month ago, an enforcement mechanism has been put in place. She said she would not disclose details of how the law is being enforced, but notes that, "in short, we are acting in accordance with the law."

Lam said some young people in recent years have gotten the wrong idea that opposing HKSAR government or central government is the way out. 

"It's not the way out," Lam said, noting that, "as a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong has much room for development under the principle of 'one country, two systems.' But if people violate the principle or trample on the core principle of 'one country,' their future could be gloomy."

Last year, Hong Kong was plunged into chaos by prolonged protests, which saw many young people taking to the streets and behaving in a radical manner. About 60 percent of the protesters are under 30 years old, media reported in August 2019, citing a study.

Violent tactics included blocking the airport, vandalizing the Hong Kong Legislative Council building and insulting the Chinese national flag and emblem.

In addition to her comments about Hong Kong's youth activists, Lam explained the reason for postponing September's Legislative Council (LegCo) election, which is now scheduled for September 5 next year. She cited the current COVID-19 situation as severe, pointing out that it threw the HKSAR government's ability to conduct a safe election into doubt. 

The Hong Kong Electoral Affairs Commission confirmed her view that there would be many risks associated with carrying out the election at this time, and pointed out that many voters said they could not return to Hong Kong to vote due to border restrictions during the pandemic.

Lam reiterated that the postponement was a major and difficult decision, given that public safety and the fairness of the election were her primary concerns, not political considerations.

"There are wins and losses in elections," Lam added, saying that despite the HKSAR government expecting the pro-establishment camp to lose in last year's district council elections, they went ahead regardless.

"Therefore, we will never find ways to obstruct an election due to being afraid of losing," she said.

Lam also noted that opinion polls show more than half of the public support postponing the election.

Hong Kong on Saturday reported 124 confirmed local transmissions, bringing the total confirmed COVID-19 infections to 3,397.