Lam lauds ‘stability’ on China national day

HONG KONG: Leader of Hong Kong Carrie Lam cheered the city’s ‘‘return to stability’’ during China national day celebrations yesterday, as police vans dotted the route of a banned antigovernment march by prodemocracy activists.

Protesters wanted to march against Beijing’s imposition of a sweeping national security law on June 30 and demand the return of 12 Hong Kong people China arrested at sea in August on their way to selfruled Taiwan.

Lam attended a flagraising ceremony with other senior Hong Kong and mainland officials in a centre for exhibitions surrounded by police and security barriers.

‘‘Over the past three months, the plain truth is, and it is obvious to see, that stability has been restored to society while national security has been safeguarded, and our people can continue to enjoy their basic rights and freedoms,’’ Lam said.

As she spoke, groups of officers in riot gear conducted stopandsearch operations along an expected marching route linking Causeway Bay with the administrative Admiralty district.

On Wednesday, police said they had arrested five people for inciting participation in illegal assemblies online.

‘‘There are too many police on the streets,’’ Chau (27) said on his way to getting breakfast. ‘‘It’s chilling.’’ — Reuters