Govt Denies Asking PLA To Help Restore Order

The government has denied a rumour that the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, had sought help from Beijing to deal with the anti-extradition protests.

In a statement issued late on Tuesday - a day after protesters rampaged through the Legislative Council - a government spokesman said an online media report that Lam had asked the People's Liberation Army for help "is totally unfounded".

The spokesman also expressed "deep regret over the untrue report by the media outlet involved", but didn't give any details of where or when the report was published.

The government has been criticised over the extradition legislation saga, with opponents of the bill calling on Lam to face protesters, while police have been accused of using excessive force on June 12 when they fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters.

The government's handling of the protests was in the spotlight on Monday after police inside the Legislative Council withdrew, allowing protesters to break in and ransack the place.