Hong Kong’s chief secretary, Matthew Cheung, said on Tuesday he was disappointed with recent protest violence after a period of relative calm, as the Asian financial hub geared up for more anti-government demonstrations in coming days, Reuters reported.
Cheung, speaking at a weekly press briefing, was referring to a protest on Sunday during when police fired tear gas in late night street clashes – the first time tear gas had been used in nearly two weeks.
“The work of stopping the violence has not yet been completed, we need to keep working on it. At the same time, we need to put effort on resolving deep rooted problems,” Cheung said.
His comments came after the city’s leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.
Xi offered Lam his support and praised her courage in governing the city during the “most difficult times” of often violent anti-government protests.
Lam, who is due back in Hong Kong on Tuesday, also met Premier Li Keqiang during her regular duty visit to Beijing.
“Hong Kong right now has not stepped out of its dilemma,” Li said, according to remarks broadcast by Cable TV, as he urged Lam’s administration to end the violence. “The … government should make continuous efforts to bring the violence and chaos to an end in accordance with the law and restore order.”
He also urged the government to address “deep-rooted issues in the economic and social development of Hong Kong” to ensure stability and prosperity in the region, Reuters adds.
The financial hub has been embroiled in more than six months of anti-government protests which show no sign of abating.
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