Hong Kong protests: city’s leader Carrie Lam commits to ‘creating a platform for dialogue’ but again dismisses calls for independent inquiry into police conduct
- Chief executive says her administration is committed to listening to the people
- Comments come after hundreds of thousands took to streets in peaceful demonstration over the weekend
Hong Kong’s embattled leader on Tuesday offered to create a platform for dialogue to end nearly three months of anti-government protests, but she again rejected widespread calls for an independent investigation into police conduct and a formal withdrawal of the now-abandoned extradition bill that sparked the political crisis.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said her administration would immediately work on the platform to find a solution to the civil unrest sweeping the city. But she insisted an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Council would be sufficient to look into allegations of police misconduct.
“All my principal officials and I are committed to listening to what the people have to tell us,” she said, adding she would start approaching those who in the past had proposed talks.
“I think it is a very sincere expression of my hope to have dialogue with various sectors of society.”
Several university presidents have already called for an open platform for different stakeholders to express their views and narrow their differences.