Hong Kong protests: China’s leaders praise Carrie Lam, but remind her she has yet to end violence
President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang both reiterated their support for the Chief Executive, but said the city's government has more work to do
Carrie Lam met President Xi Jinping for the second time in two months. China’s top leaders on Monday reassured Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor of their full support as they praised her courage and commitment in the face of Hong Kong's ongoing anti-government protests, but also reminded her that she had yet to accomplish her most pressing task – ending the violence that has gripped the city for more than six months.
Meeting Lam on the second occasion in two months, this time during her third duty visit to the capital, President Xi Jinping noted that Hong Kong’s situation this year was the most critical and complicated since it returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.
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“Facing difficulties and pressure, Chief Executive Lam has stood firm on the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, governed in accordance with the law, and remained dedicated. You did plenty of work in difficult situations,” Xi said in his opening remarks to the city’s leader, adding that her government had “rolled out policy initiatives to support businesses, alleviate people’s woes, and seriously solve deep-rooted conflicts and problems in society”.
“The central government fully acknowledges your courage and commitment in these unusual times,” he told her.
Lam replied by thanking the president for his “care and guidance” over the past six months, as well as his “trust and support” in her handling of the worst crisis since the handover.
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Li also lamented the harm the protest movement had inflicted on society as a whole.