Carrie Lam’s office categorically denies report she offered to resign as Hong Kong leader
- Director of Chief Executive’s Office Eric Chan says report that Lam offered to step down on several occasions is ‘groundless’
- Rumours about Lam’s resignation have been circulating in the Chinese media and this is not the first time that her office has issued a denial
Eric Chan Kwok-ki, director of the Chief Executive’s Office, dismissed as “groundless” a Financial Times report from Sunday, citing two people whom the British daily claimed had knowledge of the situation, that Lam had volunteered to step down on several occasions in recent weeks over mass protests in the city but Beijing refused.
“The chief executive has never offered to resign nor tendered her resignation. Never,” Chan told the Post.
Rumours about Lam’s resignation have been circulating in the Chinese media and this is not the first time that her office has issued a denial.
During her campaign for chief executive in 2017, Lam pledged she would resign as leader if mainstream opinion went against her.
Lam spoke candidly about her difficulties amid the extradition bill crisis to members of the Hong Kong Construction Association at a private dinner on Friday night.
Sources said she made an enigmatic remark to those present that whether she might meet them again next year would depend on their support.