Lam faces a barrage of questions, defends HK police action

Lam reiterated her support for the police and said that they had to make on-the-spot decisions under difficult circumstances, using the lowest level of force.

Hong Kong:Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong on Tuesday faced a barrage of questions from media where she was trying to defend police regarding the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

During a press meet she denied answering the questions put forward by the reporters. She reiterated her support for the police and said that they had to make on-the-spot decisions under difficult circumstances, using 'the lowest level of force'.

Lam also emphasised on the fact that she and the police are capable of dealing with the situation.

On Tuesday, she also warned protesters that they were pushing the city "into an abyss" by attacking its institutions, in what she called attempts to "destroy the rule of law".

The Chief Executive said that the mass sit-in at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), which forced the cancellation of all Monday flights and also 180 more on Tuesday, as well as police station sieges and widespread roadblocks during protests, had made the city no longer safe.

Speaking to the media before reconvening the Executive Council, her de facto cabinet, Lam said: "Hong Kong is seriously wounded. It will take a long time to recover." She asked protesters whether they wanted to "push Hong Kong into an abyss".

In a direct appeal to demonstrators, Lam said: "Let's set aside differences and spend one minute to look at our city and our home. Could we bear to push it into an abyss where everything will perish?

"We need to object to violence and maintain the rule of law ... When this all calms down, we will start to have sincere dialogues and rebuild harmony."

But she brushed aside questions about whether she would resign.

"As Chief Executive will be responsible for rebuilding Hong Kong's economy and to engage as widely as possible, to listen as attentively as possible to people's grievances, and try to help Hong Kong to move on," she said.

She said police had been following guidelines and using minimum force when dealing with protesters.

Hong Kong has been shaken by protests, violence and non-cooperative action since June 9, sparked by the now-abandoned extradition bill, which would have allowed criminal suspects to be sent back to mainland China.