'CE Firm On Rejection Of Probe, Resignation'

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has reportedly reiterated that she would not set up an independent probe into police action on June 12 and said that she will not be resigning.

Sources present at the meeting on Thursday with the Friends of Hong Kong Association said she described herself as "fine" and happy to carry on serving the SAR.

Former Chief Secretary Henry Tang, ex-Legco president Rita Fan, Victor Li of CK Hutchison Holdings were among those at the meeting.

The sources said Lam – who's not made a public appearance for ten days – said rejected calls to form the commission to probe the police because she thinks the existing mechanism is effective, and that under the current circumstances, the police must be supported.

The Hong Kong leader, sources said, also stated she that won't promise not to prosecute protesters involved in the major clashes on June 12, because that would be an intervention into judicial affairs.

Meanwhile, rural leader Kenneth Lau said on Friday his Heung Yee Kuk will continue support having Lam as Hong Kong's leader. He said she has already listened to people's views and suspended the work on the extradition bill, which he said effectively is a withdrawal.

Lau, who's also an executive council member, said indigenous villagers can sometimes be also very grumpy, but they didn't take radical actions like surrounding the headquarters of the government or the police.

That's because, he said, villagers from the New Territories are aware of the bigger picture and they understand the important principles, such as the rule of law.

Lau was delivering a speech at the Kuk ceremony to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Hong Kong handover.