Claims that Hong Kong a police state "irresponsible", "unfounded" says Carrie Lam

Record ID: 1436883

  • Title: Claims that Hong Kong a police state "irresponsible", "unfounded" says Carrie Lam
  • Date: 15th October 2019
  • Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (OCTOBER 15, 2019) (REUTERS) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE CARRIE LAM STANDING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE CARRIE LAM, SAYING: "First of all, I'm sure you know, one of the most important core values in Hong Kong is the rule of law and one of the most important features underpinning the rule of law is an independent judiciary. So, I will not interfere or comment on the arrangements in the judiciary to deal with a large number of cases arising from this incident. So that is my first reply. As far as individual U.S. senators coming to Hong Kong, meeting with a lot of people and making comments, I have to say that I thought their visit to Hong Kong will enable them to see the actual situation in a comprehensive and objective manner. But unfortunately, the feedback that I've got is most of them, or several of them coming here, they have very preconceived views about Hong Kong's situation. That's why for this particular senator to describe Hong Kong as becoming a police state is totally irresponsible and unfounded. The Hong Kong police force is a highly professional and civilised force. I will challenge every politician to ask themselves if the large extent of violent acts and all those petrol bombs and arson and attacks, the really deadly attacks on policemen, happened in their own country, what would they do? What would their policemen do?" HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE CARRIE LAM STANDING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE CARRIE LAM, SAYING: "Thank you very much. My first response to your question about the escalating violence and the use of these homemade bombs and also the very deadly attacks on the policemen, is this gives us even stronger determination to end the violence. I have said on many occasions that violence will not give us the solution. Violence will only breed more violence. So for concessions to be made simply because of escalating violence will only make the situation worse. On the other hand, we should consider every means to end the violence. Secondly, about the bail treatment, this is exactly the same answer I have given to the question about special courts to dispose of cases arising from these social disturbances. This is a question for the prosecutor and for the courts. So I'm not going to interfere or even comment on whether these bails have been granted appropriately. As I said, I don't want to comment on the judicial proceedings. I'm sure the prosecutor and the judge have taken all factors into account in coming to that arrangement." HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE CARRIE LAM STANDING AT PODIUM
  • Embargoed: 29th October 2019 02:43
  • Keywords: Hong Kong China Carrie Lam U.S. senator police state protests police address
  • Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • City: HONG KONG, CHINA
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001B17H9AF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday (October 15) condemned visits by U.S. senators whom she said had arrived with "preconceived views" about the Hong Kong situation, after senator Josh Hawley said on Monday (October 14) the city is becoming a "police state".
    Lam, speaking at a news conference, slammed Hawley's comments as "totally irresponsible and unfounded".
    The Hong Kong leader also stressed that the reoccurring violence has given her government a "stronger determination" to end it, adding that for "concessions to be made simply because of escalating violence will only make the situation worse".
    The Asian financial hub has seen over four months of sometimes violent protests, posing the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012 and pushing Hong Kong into its thorniest political crisis since Britain returned it to China in 1997.
    (Production: Xihao Jiang, Sophia Soo, Juarawee Kittisilpa)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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