Reach Out To The Young Protesters, Says Starry Lee

Starry Lee, the leader of the biggest pro-Beijing party in the Legislative Council, on Thursday called on the government to try and reach out to young protesters, with or without the help of middlemen, to end the ongoing agitation over the extradition bill row.

In a departure from the norm, DAB chairwoman Lee also delivered her speech in English to the council, saying the protests have attracted international attention.

"Young protesters are educated ... and believed to be able to exercise their wisdom in finding appropriate solutions, apart from demonstrations, when they calm down," she said.

"After all, destruction takes rages while construction takes ages," Lee said.

She said the differences between what the protesters want – withdrawal – and what the government has said – suspension – is very minimal.

Lee said it is time to bridge this gap and time for society to move on.

The lawmaker warned that if the differences are not overcome quickly and calmness restore, "a calamity is inevitable and immediately foreseeable". Lee called on all members of Legco to work to prevent this.