Hong Kong security chief John Lee refuses to step down over government’s failure to quell protests
- Senior official vows to ‘fulfil my duty’ to tackle the violence ravaging the city
- Lee defends police ‘caught in the crossfire’, with demonstrations showing little sign of abating
Hong Kong’s security chief has said the government cannot escape responsibility for the protest crisis, but he refused to step down over its failure to stem the violence plaguing the city.
In an interview with TVB on Sunday, Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said he would stay on to bring an end to the large-scale unrest, which has reached new heights since the anti-mask law came into force.
“For the current social and political problems, of course the government has an unshakeable responsibility,” he said.
Asked if he would resign over the crisis, he said: “As an official, at present the most important responsibility for me is to curb the serious violence in Hong Kong … I have emphasised many times that I’ll continue to stay on to fulfil my duty.”