Hong Kong being dragged down ‘path of no return’ says Carrie Lam, as she calls protests an attack on Beijing’s sovereignty

Hong Kong’s embattled leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has warned anti-government protesters they are dragging the city down a “path of no return”, and called the ongoing civil unrest an attack on Beijing’s sovereignty, on “one country, two systems”, and an attempt to destroy Hong Kong.

In her first public appearance in two weeks, Lam also accused protesters of gambling with the lives of 7 million people, and said the city was becoming “unsafe and unstable”.

Flanked by eight of her ministers at a 40-minute press conference, the chief executive toughened her stance towards protesters and said she would not accept any of their demands, such as for her to resign.

She said the government’s way of taking responsibility was by dealing with the aftermath of its effort to push through the extradition bill, which she suspended on June 15.

Lam also insisted the protests were not about her governance or the bill any more, when asked what would she do to calm the social unrest.

The chief executive was speaking after at least 73 protesters were arrested amid intense clashes with riot police in Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay over the weekend, as demonstrators also wreaked havoc in at least seven other locations across the city in flash-mob demonstrations.

Live: Hong Kong protesters gather in seven locations as citywide strike continues

Hong Kong was brought to a standstill on Monday morning, as protesters paralysed the city’s MTR railway system by blocking train doors, in response to calls for people to go on strike.

Lam described the besieging of various police stations, the hurling of bricks and petrol bombs over the weekend, as well as the blocking of railway services, as a threat to Hong Kong’s public safety and stability.

“Hong Kong has been the safest city in the world,” she said. “But this series of extremely violent acts is pushing Hong Kong to a very dangerous situation, some extreme activists have altered the nature of these [protests], resorting to violent means to express their aspirations.”

Lam condemned protesters who chanted “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” and threw a Chinese flag into the harbour, after tens of thousands defied a police ban and took part in an unlawful march from Tai Kok Tsui to Tsim Sha Tsui on Saturday.

“These actions challenge national sovereignty, threaten one country, two systems, and will destroy the city’s prosperity and stability,” she said.

Major Hong Kong banks shut branches as protests wreak havoc

Lam urged people not to condone violence, no matter how upset they are with her administration.

“Do we have to gamble with the stable lives of 7 million people and the city’s future?” she said, as she fought to hold back tears.

“Our society is becoming unsafe and unstable. This approach, which some people said is to bring collateral damage, will push Hong Kong onto a path of no return.”

But asked whether she, or any member in her cabinet, would take responsibility for the social unrest and step down, Lam insisted she would not resign, especially when Hong Kong’s future was at stake.

“When the well-being of 7 million people is facing huge challenges, this is no longer about my personal honour. My colleagues and I have the responsibility to stand fast to our positions,” she said.

Lam was also asked why she would not listen to residents and business groups’ demands for a full withdrawal of the bill, and for a judge-led commission of inquiry into the entire controversy. In response, she only reiterated the legislation was “dead”, and the Independent Police Complaints Council had agreed to look into the police’s use of force against protesters.

Hong Kong strike hits airport as hundreds of flights cancelled

In a direct appeal to protesters, Lam also warned the strikes breaking out across Hong Kong would damage the livelihoods of working families.

“People should respect others’ right to go to work … Blocking roads, stopping people from going to work can cause people to lose their jobs, and many low-income families will be affected, ” she said.

At the press conference, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also urged people to stop protesting, as the city’s economy had been facing a difficult situation against the backdrop of the ongoing US-China trade war and internal instability.

He pointed to dropping import, export and retail figures, and warned sales had already slumped by 6.7 per cent in June.

Beijing to announce ‘something new’ on Hong Kong in second briefing

“We have listened to the dissatisfaction over our handling of the bill and also our governance. I hope people will think twice as they carry on their movement,” he said.

Asked why she appeared to have been hiding from the public over the past two weeks, Lam said there was a risk people might disrupt public events or press conferences she was expected to attend, putting off organisers from hosting her.

“Some radical internet users would storm the events they know I would be attending, be it open or closed door,” Lam said. “Even organisers would not want me to go now as they would have to pay a huge sum for insurance.

“This is Hong Kong today where people resort to threats and bullying to achieve their goal.”