CE Hails Dialogue Session, But Reactions Varied

The Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, on Friday hailed the her first public dialogue session held the night before, saying people with different political views had come together and was able to respect and listen to each other.

But the reaction to event was varied, with many youngsters expressing disappointment.

In a message posted on her Facebook page, Lam said she would continue holding dialogue sessions with the public, including interactions on the internet.

The CE expressed gratitude to the randomly picked members of the public who attended a more than two hour dialogue session at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Thursday evening.

Lam described the session as a “first step” for Hong Kong to get out of its current impasse.

The CE noted that some people waited outside the event venue in Wan Chai, demanding to talk to her and acknowledged that there are different views about how the dialogue sessions should be carried out.

She cited one father who attended the Thursday’s session who asked if a good Hong Kong can be passed to his children. Lam said it’s the “ultimate goal” of everybody.

Reactions about the session were varied. Talking on a RTHK programme, opposition lawmaker Tanya Chan said the CE cannot continue putting herself up as a punching bag and has to offer some proactive decisions if the crisis is to end.

Chan said the message is clear from the meeting that most people want an independent probe into how the police have handled the protests.

But pro-government lawmaker Eunice Yung, who also took part in the radio programme, said Lam has not ruled out an independent probe. She noted that the CE only appealed to the public to allow the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) to finish its ongoing investigation and publish its findings, before considering the next step.

The talk session did not seem to have impressed the younger generation. A form six student of True Light Middle School, said she’s disappointed because the CE didn't propose any new solutions.

She also said if she gets a chance to talk to the CE, she would tell Lam that she should be ashamed of herself for suppressing people's voices and freedoms and "allowing police brutality".

A form 4 student from the same school said Lam evaded clear and simple questions and demands, especially on setting up an independent probe.

Lam admits she’s not managed to connect well with the people, but she still didn’t communicate genuinely with the public, the student said.

The students said if they attend any future talks and Lam continues to say that both the IPCC and an independent probe are equally valid avenues to find out the truth behind the allegations of police brutality, she would ask the CE not to take Hong Kong people for fools.