XI GIVES ‘VOTE OF CONFIDENCE’ TO HK LEADER
China’s President Xi Jinping expressed a “high degree of trust” in Hong Kong’s embattled Chief Executive Carrie Lam after the two met in Shanghai, as the city continued to be rocked by months-long protests.
BEIJING: China’s President Xi Jinping expressed a “high degree of trust” in Hong Kong’s embattled Chief Executive Carrie Lam after the two met in Shanghai, as the city continued to be rocked by months-long protests pitting the locals against the police.
Since the protests broke out in June over an extradition treaty, there has been speculation that Lam could be removed for not being able to end the increasingly violent demonstrations.
Xi’s endorsement of her efforts will put an end to the speculation.
“Xi voiced the central government’s high degree of trust in Lam and full acknowledgment of the work of her and her governance team,” official Xinhua news agency reported on the meeting.
“Ending violence and chaos and restoring order remain the most important task for Hong Kong at present,” Xi was quoted by the Xinhua as telling Lam.
Xi and Lam’s meeting came in the backdrop of a weekend of violence in the special administration region marked by a knife attack and the vandalising of Xinhua’s office in the city.
“After hearing Lam’s report on the recent situation in Hong Kong, Xi said the disturbances in Hong Kong have lasted five months (and) Lam has led the SAR government to fully discharge its duties, strive to stabilise the situation and improve the social atmosphere, and has done a lot of hard work,” Xinhua added. It quoted Xi as demanding “unswerving efforts to stop and punish violent activities in accordance with the law to safeguard the well-being of the general public in Hong Kong.”
After gatecrashing fancydress Halloween festivities on October 31, protesters have circulated plans on social media to mark Guy Fawkes Day on Tuesday by wearing the white, smiling Guy Fawkes masks made popular by anti-establishment hackers, the film V for Vendetta and protesters globally.