'CE's Accusation Of Revolution Is Baseless'

A group of NGOs has dismissed Chief Executive Carrie Lam's claim that some anti-extradition protesters are trying to start a revolution as baseless and meant to slander the protesters.

Dixon Sing from the Scholars' Alliance for Academic Freedom said the slogan of "reclaim Hong Kong, revolution of our times" is just appealing to people of all ages to fight for change, not independence.

On Monday, Lam said the use of this slogan shows the current protests have moved beyond the now-suspended extradition bill and said it is aimed at challenging the sovereignty of the nation and the One Country, Two Systems principle.

But Sing said they found very little evidence to back such charges.

"The only evidence that I have heard this morning is that somebody, clad in black, he or she raised a flag, so called symbolising the independence of Hong Kong. I think that kind of evidence is too flimsy, too weak to prove the categorical claim made by Carrie Lam yesterday," he said.

As a scholar who has studied local politics for 30 years, it is difficult to believe that some masked protester holding up a flag saying independence means there's a large group of people promoting the cause with determination, resources and plans, he said.

He also referred to a poll done by CUHK in 2017, which showed as little as 11% of people in the city supported independence, and he said that kind of support is only shown in attitude, not action.

The group said Lam is diverting people's attention from her administration's misconduct, which is only adding fuel to the fire.

Sing said he agrees that some protesters have escalated the level of violence, but he blamed this on disappointment over the government's handling of the issue.

He said he doesn't agree with radical acts but understands that it's an emotional reaction by youngsters as they failed to get a reasonable response.