UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has said she was "disturbed" by protests that had plunged into violence in Hong Kong, noting that the situation could "spiral."

Bachelet made the remarks at a press conference on Wednesday to mark her first year in office. Responding to questions regarding the situation in Hong Kong, Bachelet said she's encouraged that Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), had proposed to build a platform for dialogue to address key issues in the city.

"We're looking forward to the transparent dialogue that could find a solution to this situation," she said, according to a press release.

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Carrie Lam promises maximum efforts to build dialogue platform

(Cover: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet attends a news conference at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, December 5, 2018. /Reuters Photo)