Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defends Beijing’s involvement in extradition bill row, pointing out foreign powers ‘escalated’ controversy

Chief executive says mainland involvement was only natural after unnamed foreign powers ‘escalated’ the controversy

She adds that critics seized a chance to attack the mainland’s courts and human rights record

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks to the press before an Executive Council meeting in Tamar on Tuesday. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 2:28pm, 21 May 2019Updated: 2:45pm, 21 May 2019

Hong Kong’s leader on Tuesday defended Beijing’s weighing in on the extradition bill controversy, saying the involvement was only natural after foreign powers turned the dispute over fugitives into an issue about relations with the mainland.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said mainland officials offered their views last week only after the bill controversy was “escalated” by foreign powers, which seized an opportunity to attack the mainland’s legal system and human rights record.

“This is not just [Hong Kong’s] internal affairs. It has been escalated to the level of ‘one country, two systems’ and the constitutionality concerning the Basic Law,” Lam said.

One country, two systems is Beijing’s governing policy for Hong Kong, under which the city is promised a high degree of autonomy. The Basic Law is often referred to as the city’s mini-constitution.

Lam went further on Tuesday before meeting her Executive Council advisers, accusing foreign powers of damaging relations between the central government and Hong Kong.

Some [foreign powers] even criticised the legal system and human rights on the mainland.

Carrie Lam, chief executive of Hong Kong

“Some [foreign powers] even criticised the legal system and human rights on the mainland,” Lam said, adding that it was reasonable for mainland officials to give their views.

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