Hong Kong facing ‘most serious situation’ since handover amid intensifying protests, says top Beijing official Zhang Xiaoming
- Gravity of protest crisis laid out to hundreds of political and business leaders in candid address by head of China’s top government agency overseeing Hong Kong affairs
- Zhang says protests are growing in size, reach and intensity as he seeks to rally support from influential figures at Shenzhen meeting
Zhang Xiaoming, director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office under the State Council, warned a group of 500 political and business leaders in mainland China of the gravity of the protest crisis as it becomes “bigger and more violent”.
Speaking in Shenzhen at the high-powered seminar on Wednesday, Zhang said Beijing was very concerned at Hong Kong’s “most serious situation” since 1997.

“From June 9 until now, the extradition saga has lasted 60 days. It has grown bigger, with violent acts getting more intense, and wider sections of society being affected,” Zhang said, during the first five minutes of the event, when media were present.
“We can say Hong Kong is facing the most serious situation since handover,” he added. “Therefore, this meeting is very important and special.”
