Chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said the just-completed local elections are a good way to showcase the good human rights situation in Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong has a very good election law to ensure the election is fair and peaceful," she said at a press conference on Tuesday, adding that "equal and fair election is our policy advantage."

Lam expressed hope that the peace over the past weekend was not just for the elections but a voice from residents that they do not want violence.

"The local elections this time were different. On November 24, the local elections were held in a peaceful and fair environment," she said.

"My appreciation goes to all parties. My appreciation once more goes to the residents of Hong Kong," she said, noting that the turnout of the election reached 71 percent with close to three million Hong Kong residents casting their votes.

Lam said she also appreciated the candidates who "participated despite all the difficulties," especially those who were "threatened" on the campaign trail.

She also congratulated elected councilors, adding that she hoped that they will assume their responsibilities in the future. 

The chief executive also pledged that her government would "seriously reflect" on the results of the community-level elections.

Residents in Hong Kong have recently experienced a relatively safe, orderly and peaceful environment, she said, "I do hope the peaceful environment will not just be for the local elections."

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The counting of ballots in the Sixth-term District Council Ordinary Election of the HKSAR was completed by noon on Monday.

According to the HKSAR Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC), all 452 seats in 18 electoral districts were decided.

District councils are organizations at the district level that advise the HKSAR government on matters affecting residents and participate in the management of district affairs.

The district council elections were the first poll held in the HKSAR after the now-withdrawn bill concerning fugitive transfers sparked unrest in Hong Kong.

PolyU standoff

Regarding the ongoing standoff taking place inside Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong chief said police will delay their entry into the campus in the hope that the remaining radicals inside could come out "peacefully".

The standoff at the university, now entering its 10th day, has seen protesters launch assaults on police officers using weapons, including petrol bombs, bows and arrows, metal balls and bricks. There are still some remaining radicals hiding somewhere inside the campus.

CGTN reporter at the scene: A shocking visit to Hong Kong PolyU

"We will only enter the campus in an appropriate time, hoping not to provoke people inside," Lam said. "I hope the group doesn't need to be deployed if PolyU's working team can successfully persuade people to leave the campus safely. The mission is still about persuading them to come out."

The university deployed a group made up of 50 representatives from PolyU management, security guards, councilors and Red Cross doctors Tuesday morning hoping to find the remaining protesters.

According to Lam, a police safety group had also been set up, consisting of secondary school principals, psychologists, social workers, paramedics and trained negotiators. But they would only be called upon if the university failed to break the deadlock, Lam said.

She hopes the "cooling measures" they've adopted could chill the tense relationship between the police and the protesters.