Starry Lee Urges Academic Studies Into Protests

DAB chairwoman and exco member Starry Lee says the government should engage academics to study the root cause of the extradition protests, and at the same time step up its efforts to reach out to the community.

She made the remarks after members of the pro-government party held talks with Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Friday.

Lee said for the CE to hold private meetings with various groups is not enough to facilitate communication.

“[Lam] should ask her team, as a whole, to engage the community at large. Because, you know, we are a big society and we have a lot of different groups. And actually views among groups are diverse, and they should have a team spirit to do that in order to let the society as a whole know that the government as a whole would listen to the general public,” Lee said.

She said her party had suggested that the government should assemble a group of scholars to conduct academic research into the deep-rooted conflicts in society and come up with recommendations on how to mend the rift.

Lee also commented on the so-called “Lennon Walls” that are springing up across the city, saying she understands why people want to express their views, but urged them to “adhere to regulations” and not to take over public spaces for long periods of time.