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WORLD NEWS Friday 27 September 2019

Hong Kong leader rebuked at town hall over protests

By EILEEN NG to mainland China for trial,
Associated Press is viewed by many as an
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong example of growing Chi-
Kong leader Carrie Lam nese interference in the
came under a barrage of city’s autonomy under the
criticism at a town hall ses- “one country, two systems”
sion Thursday, with citizens framework introduced
accusing her government when the former British
of turning a deaf ear to colony returned to Chinese
months of protests calling rule in 1997.
for democratic reforms in The Civil Human Rrights
the semi-autonomous Chi- Front has received police
nese territory. approval for a rally on Sat-
The community dialogue urday and has applied for
was the first since massive another major march on
demonstrations began in Oct. 1. Police banned the
June over an extradition bill last two rallies planned by
that the government has the group, but protesters
now promised to withdraw. turned up anyway and the
Protesters have since ex- peaceful gatherings later
panded their demands to degenerated into chaos.
include direct elections for China has accused the U.S.
the city’s leaders and po- Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a community dialogue with selected and other foreign powers
lice accountability. participants at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. of being behind the riots.
Scores of protesters chant- Associated Press Chinese foreign ministry
ed slogans outside the “’We connect’ is my cam- ter territory, Lam said. She avoid confrontations with spokesman Geng Shuang
Queen Elizabeth stadium paign slogan, but after described the session, the the crowd, leaving four on Thursday warned the
in the Wan Chai area that two years, some have de- first in a series of planned hours later after most of the U.S. Congress to halt work
was locked down as Lam scribed it as disconnect dialogues toward reconcili- protesters dispersed. on a bill that proposes
met with more than 130 and even out of touch. . ation, a “good first step.” “To Hong Kong people, it’s economic sanctions on
people, selected random- I know that and hope to Riot police were on guard, a joke,” said Bonnie Leung Chinese and Hong Kong
ly from over 20,000 appli- change,” said Lam, who and authorities set up X-ray of the Civil Human Rights officials found to have
cants. was elected by a pro-Bei- machines and metal de- Front, which has organized suppressed democracy in
Speaker after speaker jing committee in 2017. tectors to ensure partici- several massive rallies. “If Hong Kong.
railed against government She repeated her stance pants did not bring banned she really wants to com- The foreign affairs commit-
arrogance leading to in- that violence must stop items inside the stadium municate with Hong Kong tees of the House of Rep-
creasingly violent youth-led and the rule of law be up- such as umbrellas, helmets people, all she has to do is resentatives and the Sen-
protests that show no signs held. She reiterated that and gas masks — gear to open her door, we are ate approved the Hong
of abating. They slammed complaints of police bru- used by protesters. right outside.” Kong Human Rights Acts
the use of force by police tality will be investigated Hundreds of students and The protests have turned in- on Wednesday, setting the
and questioned Lam’s sin- thoroughly by a police others formed human creasingly violent in recent stage for votes in both full
cerity after she rejected watchdog body, without chains at roads near the weeks as demonstrators chambers.
protesters’ demands. the need for a separate in- stadium earlier Thursday. lobbed gasoline bombs at Geng said at a daily brief-
Only 30 of the people were dependent inquiry. Scores later moved outside government buildings, van- ing in Beijing that the move
picked by ballot to speak Critics called the dialogue, the stadium and chanted dalized public facilities and was an endorsement of
for three minutes each. which was broadcast live, slogans as they waited for set street fires, prompting Hong Kong’s radical forces
Lam, flanked by several a political show to appease Lam to leave. police to respond with tear and accused Washing-
Cabinet members, listened protesters before major ral- Police issued a warning gas and water cannons. ton of seeking to “mess up
quietly during the more lies planned this weekend after some protesters re- More than 1,500 people, Hong Kong and contain
than two-hour session. She ahead of China’s National moved railings and dug including children as young China’s development.”
acknowledged the deep Day celebrations on Oct. 1. up bricks from sidewalks to as 12, have been detained. “We will forcefully fight
distrust of her government “This is not just a PR show but create barriers at the sta- The extradition bill, which back against any U.S. at-
and police and vowed to aimed to bring change” so dium entrance. Lam was would have allowed some tempt to harm China’s in-
regain public confidence. Hong Kong can be a bet- holed up at the stadium to criminal suspects to be sent terests,” he said.q