Hong Kong’s embattled leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday did not rule out asking Beijing for help, as the Asian financial hub struggles to deal with months of often violent anti-government protests that are damaging its economy.
Lam said Beijing wanted Hong Kong to solve its own problems, but under its mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, Hong Kong could ask Beijing for help.
“If the situation becomes so bad, then no options could be ruled out, if we want Hong Kong to at least have another chance,” Lam said at weekly news conference after a long weekend of violence crippled the city.
“But at this moment, I and my team, we are still very committed in making sure we can use our own instruments … to try and restore calm and order in Hong Kong,” she said, adding there were no plans to expand emergency laws introduced on Friday.
“But I would appeal (to) everyone in society to join hands to achieve this objective.”