Beijing: Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has denied her government is ignoring the demands of protesters, saying it has instead chosen not to respond to violence.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Lam said she would not step down as leader and she was confident that "as of today" her government could deal with the two-month long dispute.

There have been repeated warnings from Beijing that the central government could exercise emergency powers and intervene in the Hong Kong crisis by sending armed police from neighbouring Shenzhen.

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam says her government is "not accepting the demands" of violent protesters. Credit:AP

Amid speculation the Hong Kong government is examining local emergency legislation to respond to the crisis, Lam said: "I believe that it is also the hope of the general public ⁠— that we deal with it ourselves. The best basis for this is the rule of law."