John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said on Monday that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan region have hurt the feelings of the Chinese people, and that no Chinese person would accept them.
Denouncing these remarks as “extremely erroneous,” Lee said they have worsened the atmosphere for China-Japan exchanges and cast doubt on the effectiveness of many exchange initiatives.
He said the Security Bureau of the HKSAR government has updated its outbound travel alert for Japan, reminding Hong Kong residents traveling to or currently in Japan to stay vigilant. He added that Hong Kong International Airport will also offer flexible arrangements for those who need to adjust their travel plans.
The HKSAR government will continue to monitor the situation closely, according to Lee. Last week, the Education Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said the Hong Kong delegation had decided to cancel next month’s secondary school exchange program to Japan, citing the rising trend of attacks on Chinese nationals there and the need to ensure the safety of teachers and students.
