Growing Calls For Government To Reach Out

Industrial sector lawmaker Jimmy Ng has joined growing calls from the pro-establishment groups for the administration to reach out in an effort to break the political deadlock.

Speaking on RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong, Ng, who is also the honorary chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, said the violent anti-extradition law protests have led to "a state of anarchy", putting the city's rule of law at stake.

He pointed out the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, has already withheld the bill and apologised to the public, and proposed a series of measures to better grasp public opinion.

Ng said Carrie Lam deserves a second chance. "Well I appreciate that the response of the government may not have fully met the wishes of the people, particularly those who have gone onto the streets several times.

"But I still think the government deserves the opportunity, the time and room, to take Hong Kong out of the current impasse."

He said: "It is advisable to set up a more open dialogue platform to better grasp the opinions of young people from various walks of life."

Other groups - including the Federation of Trade Unions - have called on the Chief Executive to adopt a more transparent profile. Lam has been seen only a handful of times in the two months since the protests began.