Hong Kong’s Carrie Lam faced angry criticism at a public “dialogue session” last night.
More than 20,000 people applied to attend Thursday’s meeting, with authorities picking 150 in a lottery. It was the first time that Lam’s pro-Beijing administration had faced its critics in 16 consecutive weeks of unrest.
The Guardian says the reaction the “embattled leader” faced “laid bare anger coursing through the city” after months of pro-democracy protests.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Questions were chosen at random and, the atmosphere remained mostly calm. Of the 30 people chosen to speak throughout the evening, 24 were openly critical of the government, two were neutral and four expressed sympathy for Lam. Sky News says that the leader tried to “reason, cajole and listen to” the audience.
Lam said she was there to listen as she admitted trust in her government had “fallen off a cliff”. Brushing off suggestions that the meeting was a public relations exercise, she said: “The biggest responsibility lies with myself, I won’t shirk the responsibility.”
One attendee compared Hong Kong’s problems to cancer. “And you want to heal the illness with a few painkillers,” she said.
Another woman told the leader: “The police have become a political tool of the government and right now there is no way to check police abuses of power.”
“You say you want to listen to the people, but the people have been voicing their demands for three months,” one male attendee said.
After the event, Lam was trapped for nearly four hours as fuming protesters barred all the exits. Police wearing riot helmets and carrying protective shields were called in.
The crowd chanted pro-democracy slogans and directed lewd songs at the police. One brought a child's potty, labelled for Carrie Lam's use. A poster declared that the leader has a human face but the heart of a monster.
The meeting came as Hong Kong prepared for its 17th weekend of protests, with major marches expected on Saturday.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
-
October 3 editorial cartoonsCartoons Friday's political cartoons include changing interest rates, fossil fuel profits, and Bad Bunny singing in Spanish
-
What to know about stablecoinsThe Explainer With the government backing calls for the regulation of certain cryptocurrencies, are stablecoins the future?
-
15 dank Gen Z dating phrasesIn Depth Knowing these neologisms can help anyone navigate the extremely online world of youth romance culture
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
