Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam trapped as protesters wait outside building
Demonstrators had surrounded location where leader held public discussion
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.
Subscribe to 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–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is pop music now too reliant on gossip?
Talking Point Taylor Swift's new album has prompted a flurry of speculation over who she is referring to in her songs
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Nuclear near-misses
The Explainer From technical glitches to fateful split-second decisions, the world has come to the brink of nuclear war more times than you might think
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published