Chief Executive-designate John Lee says his term of government will place considerable emphasis on promoting Hong Kong's legal system.

Speaking at a forum on One Country, Two Systems on Thursday, Lee said the city's commitment to the rule of law and judicial independence is "the key to confidence in Hong Kong" and its long term prosperity and stability as an international financial hub.

However, he said this fact had been lost.

“Unfortunately, this compelling, reassuring reality is often lost in the self-interest political bad-mouthing in international politics and punditry,” he said.

“That is why the sixth term Hong Kong SAR government will place considerably more emphasis on promoting our legal system and the judicial independence it guarantees, not just to the people of Hong Kong, but also to the world as a whole.”

Speaking at the same event, outgoing CE Carrie Lam said if it wasn’t for Beijing’s intervention – namely the enactment of the national security law and the electoral system overhaul – One Country, Two Systems could have derailed and the government could have been paralysed.

“I would like to say that Hong Kong is entering a new era of stability, prosperity and opportunity,” Lam said.

“As I am about to pass the baton to my successor, let us take comfort that the future Hong Kong is politically more stable, due to the true significant central government initiatives.”

Meanwhile, the deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Huang Liuquan, said the central government believes the next SAR administration will build a Hong Kong that’s very open, united and peaceful, and where people are happy.