Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam attends a news conference in Hong Kong September 10, 2019. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 — Carrie Lam should relinquish her position as Hong Kong’s chief executive following the prolonged demonstrations that have shaken the Chinese territory, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

The prime minister said it was the best option for the embattled Lam, noting she is caught in a dilemma between following her conscience and following orders from Beijing.

“The fact is that she is in a dilemma; she has to obey the masters and at the same time she has to ask her conscience.

“Her conscience says that the people of Hong Kong are right in rejecting the law, but on the other hand she knows the consequences of rejecting the law.

“But for the administrator, I think, the best thing to do is resign,” he said during the launch of the regional LawAsia Constitutional and Rule of Law Conference 2019 here.

Dr Mahathir then said he expects China to eventually move in and address the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, saying Beijing might even employ harsh tactics to quell protests.

“Yes, they allowed to demonstrate, but eventually, that system is authoritarian, so they will come back and do what they have to do.

“I notice it happened also in Myanmar, and China in the Tiananmen Square matter; the people who demonstrated were also the relatives of the soldiers in that area.

“So, what they did was they brought soldiers from other areas and they took harsh action to put an end to the demonstration.

“I think that in the end, that is what China will do [in Hong Kong],” he said.