Carrie Lam Gets The Ball Rolling On Talks

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has reportedly invited dozens of prominent figures to a meeting on Saturday to discuss her proposal to set up a platform for dialogue to try to defuse the political crisis brought on by the extradition bill.

However, Lam is facing an uphill battle as one protesters' group has already ruled out attending any such talks, concluding that it would just be a trap.

A source told RTHK that around 20 to 30 people have been invited to Saturday's meeting – including former chief secretary Henry Tang, ex-transport chief Anthony Cheung, former Legco president Tsang Yok-sing, Cardinal John Tong, and university heads Stephen Cheung and Ronald Chin.

They're expected to discuss how to set up a platform for dialogue.

Henry Tang has already said he'd be happy to act as a host for this platform, which is supposed to give representatives of the anti-government protest movement a seat at the table with the Chief Executive.

He's said the pre-requisite is that both sides must be frank and honest.

Baptist University president Ronald Chin had also proposed the setting up of a dialogue for youngsters to express their views.

But one group which calls itself “Citizens” has already made up its mind.

"Considering Carrie Lam’s track record is really bad, we would never have a dialogue with her," said spokesman Winston Yau.

Yau said it's clear that protesters don't want this platform for dialogue – but for the government to meet their five core demands – including the full withdrawal of the extradition bill, an independent inquiry into police actions, and amnesty for protesters.

“She used ‘dialogue’, I quote, to dissolve and try to capture the student leaders. But this is a leaderless and faceless movement. This is de-centralised. That’s the reason that we don’t want any leaders,because we don’t want anyone to be arrested,. And we don’t want this movement shattered within one second when the leader is captured,” Yau said.

He said Lam was simply being unrealistic if she thinks a platform can resolve the crisis.