BEIJING: Beijing yesterday threw its backing behind Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam after an audio recording emerged of her saying she wanted to quit over three months of unrest in the semi-autonomous city. But the Chinese central government also warned it would “never sit idly by” if the situation spins out of control and endangers national sovereignty.
“We firmly support Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam in leading the SAR (Special Administrative Region) government,” Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China’s central government, said at a press conference. Hong Kong has endured dozens of sometimes violent prodemocracy protests triggered by opposition to Lam’s bid to push through a law allowing extraditions to mainland China.
The demonstrations have evolved into a wider democracy campaign involving clashes between protesters and police, in the biggest challenge to China’s rule over Hong Kong since the city’s 1997 handover from the British. Beijing has let the Hong Kong government and police handle the demonstrations but it has deployed elements of the People’s Armed Police and armoured vehicles to the neighbouring Chinese city of Shenzhen — a not-so-subtle hint that it could intervene if necessary.
“To end violence and chaos and restore order is the most pressing task in Hong Kong,” Xu Luying, spokeswoman for the Hong Kong affairs office, said at the press conference. – AFP
