Advertisement
Exclusive | Hong Kong protests: United States, Taiwan interference played role in anti-government movement, city’s security chief says
- John Lee accuses foreign forces of fanning the flames of protest and suggests anti-government movement is running out of funding sources
- In Post interview marking protest anniversary, Lee stands by the introduction of the extradition bill that sparked the unrest
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
American and Taiwanese interference has fanned the flames of the Hong Kong protests and played a role in the evolution of the anti-government movement, according to the city’s security minister.
Advertisement
John Lee Ka-chiu also pointed to the decline in demonstrations since the end of January and street activists’ lack of new equipment as he questioned whether the movement was losing sources of funding.
Speaking exclusively to the South China Morning Post on the first anniversary of the mass movement against the now-withdrawn extradition bill, the secretary of security said he would still introduce the proposals in the interests of justice if the clock was turned back.
“Without this bill, a murder case like this would not be resolved. We need somebody with supreme wisdom to answer that problem,” he said, referring to the ongoing extradition saga of Chan Tong-kai, the Hongkonger wanted in Taiwan for killing his pregnant girlfriend.
Advertisement
“I have reflected on my overall performance. The introduction of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance was for justice. I was doing what I believed was right – to put a stop to the violence, to the unlawful activities and to the threats facing society.”
Advertisement