Hong Kong's Carrie Lam says to hold first open dialogue with community next week

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that she would hold first session of an open dialogue with the community next week, while reiterating calls for an end to the violence that has torn the city for over three months.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a press conference in Hong Kong on September 17, 2019. [Photo: AFP/Nicolas Asfouri]

Lam said she would visit different communities and the dialogues would be as open as possible, with members of the public able to sign up to attend.

Each session will allow about 100 to 200 people to participate and the government will give more details on the arrangements later, she told reporters in her weekly news conference.

In the past three months, she said her government has listened to opinions from people with different backgrounds and it will continue to listen and responded to the public.

"We have invited people from all sides to the dialogue, because we believe communication is far better than confrontation. After three months of social unrest, after the formal withdrawal of the extradition bill, people have realized that the problems have gone well beyond the bill," she said.

When was asked about her expectations on the upcoming talks, she said: "It's important for the government to listen and to engage with the community to have a better understanding of those problems. Of course, I understand some of these problems about housing, land shortage and less diversity and inclusiveness in our economy."

"Since we are going to a new style of governance (that is) more open and more people-oriented, so the dialogue would be very helpful," she added.

In the meantime, Lam said that she would hold talks with some selected representatives to have some deep discussions.

The government will select randomly some participants from all sectors of life with different ages and stances, so these people will be more representing, she said.

She also added that her government would hold some more exclusive talks with 20 representatives from each section.

On Wednesday evening, she will hold a close-door meeting with 18 district council members in the government headquarters, the chief executive told.

Speaking of the weekend's violence and sabotage on the public transport, the chief executive condemned protests, saying road to restoring peace will only be longer if this violence doesn't stop.

She said the government condemns all sorts of violence, adding that building a dialogue platform does not mean the government will tolerate violent acts.

"Our condemnation is not politically driven. In the same way, police arrest and subsequent prosecution by justice system are not politically driven. We act strictly in accordance with the law. Nobody should speculate or allege either my government work or police for being selective in the work we are doing."