No country would tolerate ‘violent and destructive acts’ of Hong Kong’s protesters, Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng says
- Top official makes comment in meeting with city’s leader Carrie Lam and says radical separatists have crossed bottom line
- Lam given state leader’s backing as he includes judiciary among those who must take responsibility for ending civil unrest
At an official meeting with Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Beijing’s top leader overseeing the city’s affairs said the anti-government protests that have rocked the city since early June had challenged the “one country, two systems” governing principle and trampled upon the rule of law. Radical separatists calling for independence would not be tolerated, he warned.
The protests had hurt the interest of Hong Kong, he said, as he acknowledged that Lam had done everything she could to quell the violence.
“The central government fully acknowledges the work done by you and the city administration, as well as the dedicated performance of the police,” he told Lam in his opening remarks at the meeting.
“Stopping violence and restoring order is still the most important work for Hong Kong society, the common responsibility of the city’s executive, legislative and judicial bodies, as well as the biggest consensus of the city,” he said.