Hong Kong government shows signs of life as protesters push on with international campaign against extradition bill at G20 summit in Japan

Government insiders reveal the city’s embattled chief executive has reached out to allies and community leaders

Several activists gather in Osaka to call on world leaders to mention Hong Kong’s freedom in their meetings with President Xi Jinping.

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Carrie Lam meets with the leaders of police unions at Government House. Secretary for Security John Lee and the Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo also attend. Photo: Handout

Published: 11:34pm, 28 Jun 2019Updated: 6:19am, 29 Jun 2019

The Hong Kong government showed signs of stirring back to life on Friday while protesters pressed on to raise international support against the suspended extradition bill, as some travelled to Osaka ahead of the Group of 20 summit in Japan while others prepared for more demonstrations in the city.

Government insiders revealed that the city’s embattled leader had reached out to allies and community leaders on Thursday, after a meeting that day with police union leaders and another session with groups on Tuesday. She was also said to be preparing for her cabinet meeting next week, which was cancelled twice in the past fortnight.

Sources revealed that in the sessions with pro-Beijing politicians and business elites, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made clear she would continue to support the police force. She also doubled down on not giving in to protesters’ demands for her to resign, launch an independent inquiry into police use of force, and spare those arrested from prosecution.

Lam also received much-needed support from the business, professional and political sectors on Friday, as the Real Estate Developers Association issued a statement urging society to refocus its energy on the challenges posed by the uncertain global political and economic environment.

It issued the plea as the city’s Development Bureau returned to a business-as-usual mode, releasing two plots of land for mixed use and a mega commercial plot in its quarterly sale announcement.