The leader of Hong Kong’s Government has found herself in an awkward position with a journalist.

In a fiery exchange, the beleaguered Chief Executive of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam, was unable to say the Chinese authorities weren’t pulling her strings — a key accusation of her opponents.

A reporter accused her of repeatedly “evading the question” and asked if it was because her “hands were tied by Beijing”. Her response was a masterclass in being vague.

Ms Lam faced the media as protests that have gripped the city entered their 11th week.

Hong Kong’s international airport, one of the world’s largest air hubs, had to cancel most flights on both Monday and Tuesday as demonstrators swarmed the terminal buildings.

On Tuesday, Ms Lam, Beijing’s hand-picked leader for the former colony, warned Hong Kong was “on the brink of no return”.

But months after a controversial proposed law lit the touch paper on the protests, Ms Lam has found herself unable to say whether she has the ability to axe the legislation without first receiving approval from Beijing.

Under the agreement that saw the UK return Hong Kong to China in 1997, the region was supposed to operate under the principle of “one country, two systems”.

This arrangement gave Hong Kong significant autonomy from the Chinese mainland, most significantly allowing it to remain capitalist within an otherwise communist nation.

Hong Kong also retained its separate legal and political systems, distinct currency and a greater tolerance for freedom of expression.

Effectively, that means Ms Lam and the local government should be able to run Hong Kong’s internal affairs with little input from Beijing.

But a proposal in April to change Hong Kong’s extradition laws that would enable China to demand residents be tried in mainland Chinese courts was condemned in the city.

Opponents say the Chinese court system is far more opaque and open to political interference than Hong Kong’s judiciary.

‘SHE’S EVADING THE QUESTION’

Ms Lam suspended the law in June, after the initial protests, and declared it “dead” in July. However, the legislation has not been formally withdrawn. The current protest have focused on this as well as allegations of police brutality.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Ms Lam was asked if she or Beijing held sway over the future of the controversial new law.

“Do you as Hong Kong leader have the autonomy to decide to withdraw the bill, yes or no?

“Or is this something that Beijing has to approve as well? In other words, have your hands been tied by Beijing in not allowing bill to be withdrawn, yes or no?,” a journalist said.

A seemingly frustrated Ms Lam, eyes looking up and not at the man, replied: “This question has been answered on previous occasions.”

“But you’ve evaded the question on numerous occasions,” said the reporter interrupting.

“Number one,” said Ms Lam, “As we have all heard from Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (a Chinese Government department) the central Government is still confident that I myself, the Government of Hong Kong and the police force are still capable of resolving this crisis.”

“Do you have the autonomy or not to withdraw the extradition bill, could you answer that specific question?” the reporter persisted.

The answer he received was nothing if not vague.

“Secondly, in response to various demands we have heard we have considered all factors and came up with a response that we have rehearsed time and again over the last two months,” said Ms Lam.

“She has answered your questions,” another man can be heard saying.

“She has not answered the question, she has evaded the question,” said the reporter.

Ms Lam is caught between the many Hongkongers who have attended mass demonstrations to protest the Chinese Government’s growing influence on the city, and authorities in Beijing which want the protests to cease and the region to be compliant.

Chinese authorities have accused the protesters of “serious crimes with sprouts of terrorism emerging”, and say their actions amount to an “existential threat”.

“One must take resolute action toward this violent criminality, showing no leniency or mercy,” Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office spokesman Yang Guang said in a statement from Beijing.

Some Hong Kong legal experts have warned the use of the term terrorism could see extensive anti-terror laws and powers used against protesters.

Yesterday, Cathay Pacific was forced to cancel more than 200 flights while the South China Morning Post reported up to 300 flights had been cancelled in total.

“Terminal operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted as a result of the public assembly at the airport today,” the airport authority said.

After filling up the arrivals hall, demonstrators streamed into the departures area despite increased security measures designed to keep them out.

Pictures from the airport showed dozens of protesters lining baggage trolleys up to block departure gates.

With AP