No Violence Claim From Ted Cruz 'baffling'

The government on Sunday broke its silence on Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s cancelled meeting with visiting US senator Ted Cruz, saying Lam called off the Saturday meeting due to other ‘public duties’, while suggesting that Cruz was lying when he told reporters he hasn’t seen any violence from anti-government demonstrators.

A statement from the CE’s office also said Cruz had not raised any objection over an arrangement for both parties not to publicly disclose the contents of their discussions behind closed doors.

The senator later told reporters that Lam's request for confidentiality demonstrated her misunderstanding of how free speech and a free press operate.

The CE’s office also said it is “baffling” for Cruz to say that he had not seen violent acts from protesters, citing multiple media reports on arson and petrol bomb attacks, vandalism of shops, as well as ‘wanton’ attacks on police officers and others.

“While we respect the freedom of speech of foreign politicians, we consider that comments should be based on facts”, the statement said. “Everyone can see from media reports that violent protesters conducted violent and vandalistic acts on many occasions in Hong Kong in recent months.”

The spokesman added that the CE had originally planned to meet Cruz at his request, but the meeting was cancelled “due to the Chief Executive's other duty commitment”.

There was no further elaboration.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong has also blasted comments made by Senator Ted Cruz, describing them as ludicrous, and warning him to "stop running amok on China's land."