'Govt to reflect on poll result, but no concessions'

'Govt to reflect on poll result, but no concessions'

The Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, said on Tuesday that she would "seriously reflect" on the district council election results, but ruled out accepting any more demands of the protesters.



Speaking to reporters before heading into the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lam accepted that many people used their vote in Sunday’s elections to express their discontent with her administration.



“We were aware of the large number of voters coming out to cast their votes perhaps not only to select a preferred candidate to sit on the District Council, but also to express a view on many issues in society – and I would readily accept that – including deficiencies in governance, including unhappiness with the time taken to deal with the current unstable environment”, she said.



But Lam added that “the views and opinions expressed… are quite diverse. There are people to express the view that they could no longer tolerate the violence on the streets.”



Asked if she would change her mind and heed to some of the protesters’ demands to calm the social tension, such as set up an independent commission of inquiry to look into the whole saga and alleged police brutality, the embattled SAR leader said she has no plan to do so.



Lam said she’s already announced the official withdrawal of the extradition bill in September and that she has clearly explained the government’s stance on the other demands put forward by demonstrators.



“The next step to go forward is really to engage the people and we have started a public dialogue with the community but unfortunately, with the unstable environment and the chaotic situation I could not do more of that sort of engagement. I hope the environment will allow me to do it now”, she said.



The CE added the government is now in the process of setting up an Independent Review Committee to look at the causes of the social unrest, which has already lasted over six months.



Lam had earlier said she will invite community leaders, professionals and academics to join the committee to explore the society’s deep-seated problems and advise the government on finding solutions.



The result of the Sunday election saw parties supporting the government getting virtually wiped out and their rivals gaining control of all but one of the 18 district councils. Opposition candidates had described the poll as a de-facto referendum on the ongoing anti-government protests.