Li made his appeal at a religious gathering where 1,000 Buddhists prayed for the city. Photo: Handout
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https://scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3026768/hong-kong-tycoon-li-ka-shings-appeal-leniency-protesters-gets Politics
Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s appeal for leniency for protesters gets cool reception from Chinese media
- If billionaire wants to help young people he should build more low-cost housing in the city, official says
- Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said earlier that city’s government ‘will not endorse or condone any act that goes against the rule of law’
Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing asked the city government to be lenient towards the young people involved in the protests. Photo: Felix Wong
China’s official media has cold-shouldered a call by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing for leniency for protesters amid the ongoing unrest in the city, saying the “rule of law” must be respected.
Speaking about the protests to a group of visitors at the Tsz Shan Monastery in the Tai Po area of the city on Sunday, the 91-year-old billionaire said he hoped people in authority might show humanity to the young people so as to give them “a way out”.
While China’s official media played down Li’s request, some news outlets, including China.com, which is run by the State Council Information Office, covered the story only to later delete their reports.
Chinese news outlets did, however, report the comments made by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday when she rejected Li’s appeal, saying that all crimes had to dealt with in accordance with the law.
“The rule of law is an important core value of Hong Kong. The government will not endorse or condone any act that goes against the rule of law,” Xinhua quoted her as saying.
Two Chinese officials, who declined to be identified, said Li’s remarks might embolden the protesters.
“It’s too sensitive for Chinese media to report [his remarks],” one said. “If there has to be leniency to the youth, the best way is for the Li family to provide [more] affordable housing.”
The second official said it seemed Li was blaming the Hong Kong government for the crisis.
“It’s fine if those remarks could stop the street violence, but if they achieve the opposite result, then we need to be very careful about where it leads, especially if the remarks are made by prominent figures,” the person said.
Li had not previously spoken publicly about the civil unrest in Hong Kong. He made the remarks at a religious gathering where 1,000 Buddhists had assembled at the monastery to pray for the city.
Last month, the tycoon took out advertisements in a number of local newspapers calling for a halt to the violence after Beijing urged the city’s private sector to help bring about an end to the crisis.
But the ambiguous wording of the adverts led to speculation that Li was trying to remain impartial on the issue and not show any clear support for either the Hong Kong government, Beijing or the protesters.