【原文】特首林鄭月娥6月17日在禮賓府會見教育及宗教界等各界人士，就修例爭議聽取意見。消息指林鄭月娥就修例事件致歉。林鄭月娥約見社會各界人士，就修例爭議做好解釋溝通，有助降低社會對抗情緒，恢復理性，令政府管治、社會秩序盡快重回正軌。警方亦就暴動的說法作出澄清，顯示政府再釋出善意、化解矛盾。社會各界應支持林鄭月娥帶領政府和市民重新聚焦發展經濟、改善民生，努力化解香港的深層次矛盾，為年輕人提供更多更好的出路。對於反對派糾纏修例爭議、提出不合理的要求，以及外部勢力繼續妄評修例，肆意煽風點火，廣大市民必須擦亮眼、正視聽，堅決抵制，令香港及早修補政爭撕裂的局面。
政府宣佈停止立法會的修例工作之後，林鄭月娥繼續聆聽民意，承認工作不足，直接與各界溝通，正面回應市民訴求，有利避免社會進一步撕裂，也取得社會各界的理解和支持。
有曾經聯署要求擱置修例的中學校長，就表示滿意林鄭月娥平息修例爭議的解釋。社會各界期望，政府已經停止修例的立法工作，社會上即使對修例仍有不同意見，都應該冷靜下來，積極回應政府的善意。香港需要重新振作，把精力和焦點集中到發展經濟、改善民生，這不僅是當前止痛療傷的良方，更是香港保持繁榮穩定的唯一正確道路。
此次反修例爭議演變成街頭運動，固然有政府溝通、解釋不足的原因，同時冷靜分析、客觀評估，更可看到反對派、激進派惡意抹黑修例，攻擊內地司法制度，外部勢力前所未見地插手干預，對誤導市民、引爆民意推波助瀾，起到極之惡劣的作用；同時，困擾本港多時的深層次矛盾始終得不到徹底解決，高樓價、高租金，年輕人出路不多，社會怨氣未能有效釋放，種種因素疊加，導致局面一時難以收拾。如今事件告一段落，政府既要積極消除事件的不良影響，更要花更多時間和工夫在推動發展的根本途徑上。
特首林鄭月娥上任近兩年來，切實履行與市民「同行」的競選承諾，致力促進社會和諧，推出多項經濟民生、土地房屋政策，包括教師學位化、交通津貼、空置稅等，也逐步見到成效。修例問題已不是當前本港社會最重要、最迫切的議題，社會各界無必要糾纏修例爭議，而應延續此前各界共同合作、專注發展的良好態勢。
連日來，中央一再明確表態堅定支持特首和特區政府依法施政，堅定支持特區政府維護法治和市民利益。
中央維護特首和特區政府的管治威信，希望香港各界一如既往支持特首和特區政府依法施政，共同謀劃香港長遠發展，積極參與粵港澳大灣區建設和共建「一帶一路」，破解事關廣大市民切身利益的問題，努力為青年人成長和發展創造條件，不斷增進港人民生福祉。這也是維護香港和港人的根本利益。
警務處處長盧偉聰昨晚會見傳媒，就6月12日有關暴動的說法作出澄清。他表示，當天下午，由於有人在立法會示威區以磚頭等物品，衝擊警方，因此警方要採取行動，他強調，某些行為涉嫌干犯暴動罪，其他沒有參加的人士，毋須擔心。政府為消除社會對抗情緒，進一步釋出善意，相信社會各界能體會到政府的良苦用心，應與政府相向而行，共謀早日恢復和諧。 （摘錄自香港《文匯報》社評18-6-2019）
Hong Kong should be back on track and focus on development as government shows goodwill to resolve conflicts
【譯文】In a private meeting at the Government House yesterday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor gathered views on the extradition bill amendment controversy from the representatives of the education and religious sectors. It was noted that the Chief Executive apologised over the extradition bill debacle. Organising meetings with different sectors of the community to explain the bill can help reduce conflict and restore rationality in the society, so that governance of the government and social order could return to the right track as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the police have also made a statement to clarify the use of the term "riot", once again showing clearly that the government is willing to show goodwill and resolve conflicts. The society should offer their support to the Chief Executive, so that she could lead Hong Kong and focus on developing the economy, improving people's livelihood, solving the deep-rooted conflicts in society, and providing a better future for the young people. In face of the demands raised by the opposition regarding the extradition bill amendment, the general public must be able to criticise, reflect and think independently, so that the cracks in our society could be mended as soon as possible.
As soon as the government announced the suspension of the extradition bill amendment works, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has been continuously listening to the opinions of the general public. Admitting the deficiencies in her works, she has directly communicated with various sectors of the society to respond to the demands and wishes of Hong Kong citizens. Further division in our society has been avoided as a result, and the general public has responded positively overall. For instance, a principal of a local secondary school, who signed a petition earlier to oppose the bill amendment, has expressed his satisfaction over the Chief Executive's explanation on the extradition bill. To satisfy the demands of the society, the government has suspended the extradition bill amendment works. Despite the fact that there are still different opinions regarding the bill amendment controversy, the public should calm down and respond to the government's show of goodwill. Hong Kong must be back on track again, and start focusing on economic development and improving people's livelihood. This is not only a solution to our current problems, but also the only correct way for Hong Kong to maintain peace and prosperity.
Looking back on how the extradition bill amendment turned into a street movement, of course the government has its share of responsibility due to deficiencies in communication and explanation works. However, as one reflect calmly and objectively, one can observe the role of the opposition and external forces in rallying the public into proactively resisting the extradition bill amendment. At the same time, deep-rooted problems that have plagued Hong Kong for a long time were never really solved. Skyrocketing home prices, ever-increasing rents, limited pathways for Hong Kong youth, and accumulated social grievances have all added up to the extradition bill amendment debacle. As the situation becomes calmer, the government must begin to take action to eliminate the harmful effects that were stemmed from the bill amendment controversy. Also, more time and effort must be invested in the economic development of Hong Kong.
In the past two years, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has strived to fulfil her election pledges by promoting social harmony and launching a number of policies regarding the economy, livelihood, and housing. For instance, the upgrading of teachers to degree holders, transport subsidies, and vacancy tax are some of the measures that are beginning to show effects. The extradition bill amendment is no longer the most pressing and important issue that requires society's attention. The public should move on from the controversy and begin working together again to build momentum for cooperation and development.
In the past few days, the central government has expressed its firm support to the Chief Executive and the Hong Kong government time and again in their administration, the safeguarding of the rule of law, and the protection of the interests of Hong Kong citizens. Defending the Chief Executive and the Hong Kong government's authority, the central government expects the various sectors of the society to continue to support the Chief Executive and the Hong Kong government to govern according to law. Hong Kong should come together in the city's long-term development, and proactively engage in both the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. Problems that concern the interests of the people should be solved by working together. The public should also strive to create conditions for the growth and development of young people. All in all, to improve the people's livelihood is to enhance the fundamental interests of Hong Kong.
At a press conference yesterday, Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung clarified the use of the term "riot" on the 12 June clashes. According to Lo, police defence lines at the protest zone near the Legislative Council complex were stormed with bricks in the afternoon that day, therefore police officers had to take action in response. He stressed that only those who have committed certain actions would be accused of rioting, while those who were not involved in such violence would not have to worry about riot-related charges. The government has offered the olive branch in order to cool down tensions in the society. It is believed that the public would understand the good intentions of the government, and therefore work together to bring harmony back to the society. ■Jeffrey Tse (ywc_jeffrey@hotmail.com)