CE Lashes Out At 'irresponsible' US Senator Remark

The Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, has lashed out at comments made by US senator Josh Hawley who had just concluded a visit to the territory, asking how police in the United States would have reacted to protests like those in Hong Kong.

During his stay in Hong Kong, Hawley, who is one of the sponsors of a bill that calls for the sanctioning of officials who undermine people's rights in the SAR, said the city is sliding towards becoming a police state.

Speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Carrie Lam described Hawley’s accusation as "irresponsible" and "totally unfounded".

“The Hong Kong police force is a highly professional and civilised force. I would challenge every politician to ask themselves if the large extent of violence acts and all those petrol bombs and arson and really deadly attacks on policeman happened in their own country, what would they do? What would their policeman do?” she questioned.

Lam also condemned what she called an escalation of violence against the police, saying the fact that protesters have resorted to even more deadly force to attack officers by for example, using a remote-controlled bomb, only strengthens the government’s determination to go after the perpetrators.

The SAR leader added that despite the escalating violence in the territory and calls on her government to consider delaying upcoming district council elections, her administration is still committed to holding the polls as scheduled on November 24.