Politics
2019.10.17 11:32 GMT+8

Singapore PM: Five major demands are intended to humiliate HK govt

Updated 2019.10.17 12:45 GMT+8
CGTN

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Wednesday that Hong Kong protesters' five major demands are intended to humiliate and bring down the government. 

Speaking at a dialogue with Steve Forbes at the Forbes Global CEO Conference, Lee said: "I don't see any easy way forward, because the demonstrators they say they have five major demands and not one can be compromised. But those are not demands which are meant to be a program to solve Hong Kong's problems – those are demands which are intended to humiliate and bring down the government."

Radical protesters break into the Legislative Council building during the anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China, Hong Kong, China, July 1, 2019. /Reuters Photo

"You've got to be able to move beyond that. And to take steps which will not overcome all of the problems at once, but progressively tackle the issues which are bugging Hong Kongers,"he continued. 

Calling for wisdom and restraint on both sides, Lee said there is "no simple solution" because Hong Kong is not a country but a special administrative region (SAR) and it has to "live and work" within such a framework. 

In the last four months, over 400 demonstrations, processions, and rallies have taken place in various districts in Hong Kong, injuring more than 1,100 people and leading to over 2,200 arrests, according to Carrie Lam, chief executive of HKSAR, in her annual policy address on Wednesday.

In her speech, Lam stressed that Hong Kong will continue upholding the "One Country, Two Systems" policy and safeguarding the rule of law. 

Lam's speech at the Legislative Council on Wednesday was repeatedly disrupted by some opposition lawmakers, leading her to give a video message instead.

"When Hong Kong is troubled, when there are demonstrations or worse riots, when the chief executive is booed out of the Legislative Council chamber, I think that is very sad for Hong Kong and bad for the region," Lee said. "We look on with concern."

Lee said there could be some legislative reform or social policies to help restore order, but added that it would not be easy. 

He said the unrest was causing disturbance across the region. 

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