Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Monday condemned the latest string of violent acts that "disrespected national dignity" and said such acts will push Hong Kong into a "very dangerous" situation.
"Such extensive disruptions in the name of certain demands or uncooperative movement have seriously undermined Hong Kong's law and order and are pushing our city, the city that we all love and many of us helped to build, to the verge of a very dangerous situation," she said at a press conference, her first in over two weeks.
"The government will be resolute in maintaining law and order in Hong Kong and restoring confidence," she told reporters.
She warned that some protesters were challenging the country's sovereignty and the principle of "One Country, Two Systems".
"We saw recently, it is already clear that people are impertinently proposing to 'reclaim Hong Kong, revolution of our times,' which challenges the country's national sovereignty," she said. "I dare say it is trying to topple Hong Kong, completely destroy the cherished lives of more than 7 million people."
Rally against violence
When answering a question on calls for her resignation, Lam reiterated that she, as the chief executive, was taking responsibility for her government actions and she and her team would continue to bring the city out of chaos. She also promised to listen and respond more to the city's residents.
She went on to appeal to the city's residents to rally together to say no to violence.
"The only thing to deal with violence is not to do anything to give way to more violence... The only way to deal with it is to rely on the rule of law," she said.
"The crisis now is not about the extradition bill… it is about Hong Kong's safety and security," she added, calling for efforts to restore law and order as soon as possible.
