Caroline Wilson urged people to ‘stand in defence of freedom, tolerance and openness’
ELIZABETH CHEUNG
ELIZABETH.CHEUNG@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Monday, 16 November, 2015, 10:38am
UPDATED : Monday, 16 November, 2015, 1:45pm
British consul general Caroline Wilson visited the French consulate general this morning to show unity with the French people in the wake of the deadly attacks in Paris on Friday. Photo: Sam Tsang
The British consul general said the British people were showing “solidarity with France” as she visited the French consulate this morning to express condolences for victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris that killed at least 129 people.
Caroline Wilson, Britain’s top envoy in Hong Kong, arrived at the consulate shortly before 9am and signed the book of condolence.
“I am incredibly shocked [by the attacks] ... we are here standing very much united with France,” Wilson told the South China Morning Post.
READ MORE: Chinese stocks open sharply lower after Paris attack
“It’s time that everyone stand together, be united and strong after this type of attack,” said Wilson, whose entry in the book urged people to “stand in defence of freedom, tolerance and openness”.
Hong Kong is considered to have one of the largest ex-pat populations of French people outside of France, with an estimated 20,000 French nationals living and working in Hong Kong, considered to be the fastest growing expat group, with an estimated 800 French companies based here.
Joel Lecroq, originally from the western part of France, wa the first person this morning to sign the book. "It's really sad," he said of l;ast Friday's attacks. "Sometimes you don't agree on something, but it doesn't mean you have to act in such ways," he said, referring to the 129 people murdered in three separate terror attacks in the CBD of Paris.
The book is available for the public to sign at the French consulate in Admiralty through Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang
Following the attacks, Lecroq said he sent out a number of emails to make sure his friends and relatives in Paris were safe.
Despite feeling uncertain, Lecroq said he still planned to fly to France today and stay through Christmas. He said he ran a business in Hong Kong and the mainland.
Eric Berti, French consul general to Hong Kong, showed gratitude for the city’s support in the wake of the Paris attacks.
“I’m very moved,” he said. “I’m very happy to see our friends today.”
Berti spoke to the media at the French consulate after attending a memorial activity at the French International School in Happy Valley this morning.
The envoy said a special edition of Le Petit Quotidien, a French newspaper for kids, prepared in France and sent to Hong Kong electronically after the attacks, had been distributed to students to explain what happened in Paris over the weekend.
“It is something awful for kids. Kindness and benevolence are important, and we should avoid any communities being disconnected,” said Berti.
He said the 900 some French companies in the city employing 27,000 employees stopped at noon today for a minute of silence. A vigil in tribute was planned this evening at 6:30pm in Tamar Park in Admiralty.
A minute of silence was to take place at 7pm, as France and other European countries would simultaneously honour the victims.
Berti said Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying would pay tribute at the French counslate at around 3pm today.
The city’s local French community and people of different backgrounds also came to show support to the French.
Alexandra Malandain-Leckie, president of the Overseas French Association of Hong Kong, also came to the consulate to show support to her fellow countrymen. “It is very traumatising for the French community in Hong Kong,” she said. “We hope to support them even though we are very far away from them. We hope Paris will be a safe city soon.”
She said she was not afraid of returning to France to spend Christmas there this year. “This sort of thing can happen at any time. It is not something we can control. Do not allow yourselves to be afraid, otherwise the terrorists will win,” she said.
Thibaut De Laitre, a Frenchman working in Hong Kong, said he was very shocked about what has happened. “It is not something we are expecting,” he said as he queued up to sign at the consulate. “It is very difficult to live in a world like this. We are fighting against something invisible, it’s quite a nightmare.”
The book of condolence is on display for three days at the entrance of the French consulate general in Admiralty.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1879214/solidarity-france-britains-envoy-hong-kong-signs-book
