'Understandable If Beijing Wants Political Overhaul'

Chief Executive Carrie Lam says it is "understandable" if Beijing feels there is a need to revamp Hong Kong's political system, as what has happened in the SAR in the past few years has been "worrying".

Lam made the remark on Tuesday when she was asked for her views on her predecessor CY Leung's suggestion that the chief executive could be selected through "local consultations" instead of the usual small-circle election, and that this would be perfectly in line with the Basic Law.

Beijing reportedly intends to revise the political structure in Hong Kong, including cancelling district councillors' seats on the 1,200-member election committee tasked with choosing the territory's chief executive – in order to reduce the democratic camp's leverage.

Speaking to reporters before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lam said she believes elections are beneficial to society, as they offer candidates a chance to explain their aspirations and policy directions.

But if Beijing sees the need to make changes, she said she would definitely cooperate, as the CE answers both to the SAR and the central government.

She also said Beijing has been working to introduce universal suffrage in Hong Kong.

"Everybody can see the central people's government's sincerity in implementing Article 45 [of the Basic Law], introducing universal suffrage in a gradual and orderly manner, in accordance with the actual situation in Hong Kong. But what happened instead? Some people in Hong Kong had obstructed the democratic development," she said.

"A few years have passed. And now, Hong Kong's actual situation has become worrying. My comments here are perhaps similar to my explanation on why we need the national security law," said Lam.

"That is, when Hong Kong's actual situation becomes very high risk, or even to the point of threatening national security or undermining One Country, Two Systems, if the central people's government thinks it has to take action, it is understandable."

Lam said at the moment, though, she has no details to share on what changes, if any, Beijing has in mind.