'CE Should Offer Olive Branch Before Any Talks'

Pro-democracy lawmaker Charles Mok on Friday urged Chief Executive Carrie Lam to first make some concessions if she really is interested in talking to young people about the ongoing extradition bill crisis.

Mok's comment came after student leaders at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Chinese University said they had rejected invitations from Lam for a closed-door meeting.

The HKUST student union said it would not agree to talks unless meetings were open, and journalists and people from other sectors were present.

The Chief Executive’s Office issued a statement saying Lam is making an effort to meet various sectors, including young people who have taken part in recent protests.

Mok said the chief executive could make the meetings happen if she really wants to.

“For example, including asking some other more neutral people to be able to attend the meeting at the same time; making part of it open, if not the complete meeting,” he told RTHK’s Janice Wong.

“And most of all, indicating to the students that this is not just a PR exercise and the students feel their sincerity. I think that is the most important,” he said.

“I hope that being the chief executive now doesn’t mean she would lose the kind of human touch she used to have,” said Mok.