Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam asked to remain in Queen Elizabeth Stadium after first community dialogue to avoid clashes between police and protesters
- Chief executive made clear to police during preparatory meetings that she did not want force to clear path for her after event
- Handful of protesters outside began digging up bricks and blocking roads, refusing to let Lam leave after first meeting with public
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor chose to remain inside the venue for four hours after the conclusion of her first town hall dialogue on Thursday to avoid an ugly scene of confrontation between police and the protesters outside who were refusing to let her leave, sources have said.
The chief executive made her wishes clear before the community dialogue at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai, saying she did not want the force to clear a path for her, a police source said.
When the meeting ended at around 9.30pm on Thursday, protesters among an assembled crowd outside began digging up bricks and blocking the junction of Queen’s Road East and Morrison Hill Road to prevent Lam from leaving.
Four hours later, most of the protesters had vanished, allowing Lam and her government ministers to leave the stadium through the back door on Queen’s Road East at 1.30am on Friday.
The police source said the force had studied different routes to escort Lam and the four principal officials from the venue in an emergency.
During their confinement, Lam and her ministers reviewed the session and studied possible improvements in future dialogues.