Govt 'deeply Sorry' Over Deaths: Matthew Cheung

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said on Friday the government will give extra resources to suicide-prevention programmes as he acknowledged that the controversy over the now-shelved extradition bill has left many people unhappy or depressed.

Four people linked to the anti-extradition protest movement have fallen to their deaths since mid-June. Cheung, in the first comment by a government official on the deaths, said he was saddened.

He said the issue was the focus of a meeting with pan-democratic legislators on Friday, in what was the first official gathering between the opposition and senior officials for almost three weeks.

"The entire Hong Kong SAR government, we're deeply sorry and saddened by the recent suicide cases, we'll do everything we can to stop this trend," Cheung said.

Many anti-extradition protesters and supporters have blamed the government for the deaths. Cheung did not directly address questions from reporters on whether the government is responsible, saying only that officials will be providing more support to anyone in need of help.

However, Cheung said the government has not changed its position on the key demands of demonstrators – for the administration to completely withdraw the extradition bill; rescind its description of protests on June 12 as a riot; stop prosecuting protesters; and set up an independent probe into the police handling of the protests.

Officials have previously rejected such calls, and Cheung on Friday said the administration’s position on these demands are clear.

Cheung also said the Chief Executive Carrie Lam is sincere in her attempts to reach out to student leaders by inviting them to private discussions.

Student unions from eight tertiary institutes have said they won’t hold talks with Lam unless the meetings are held in public, and the Chief Executive first promises amnesty for all anti-extradition protesters.

Cheung rejected suggestions that the talks would just be a public relations stunt.

Following the meeting, the pro-democracy camp said the most important thing now is to save lives.

The convenor of the camp, Claudia Mo, said Lam shouldn't "keep her head in the sand" and give a proper respond to the people's demands.

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