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Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has found herself having to explain a leaked recording of a speech made behind closed doors. Photo: Nora Tam

Is Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam distancing herself from Beijing with resignation remarks in closed-door meeting?

  • Analyst says leaked audio recording shows chief executive is already desperate, and harsher measures from central government are in the pipeline
  • Government source plays down incident, insisting that Lam is choosing to stay on out of her own responsibility to Hong Kong
A grim-faced Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was prepared for a grilling by the media on Tuesday over a leaked audio recording from a closed-door meeting suggesting she would quit, given the choice, over the protest crisis plaguing Hong Kong.
The city’s embattled chief executive said she had never offered to resign and denied that Beijing was stopping her from doing so.

She also rejected speculation “in very clear and strong terms” that it was herself or someone from her administration who purposely leaked the recording to the media in a bid to shift the blame to Beijing.

However, her clarification apparently failed to dispel speculation that she was distancing herself from Beijing by telling a group of businesspeople at a private gathering that she had little choice, given that the massive backlash against her now-abandoned extradition bill had been elevated “to a national level” and “to a sort of sovereignty and security level”.

She was heard in the recording saying that “if I have a choice, the first thing is to quit” for causing “unforgivable havoc” to the city.

Protesters have vented their anger against the police force in escalating violence. Photo: Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai

Chinese University political scientist Ivan Choy Chi-keung suggested Lam wanted to distance herself from the possibility of harsher measures in the pipeline to quell the ongoing anti-government protests.

“The government is likely to make the unpopular move of invoking the Emergency Regulations Ordinance in the near future,” Choy said. “Lam is keen on clearing her name by hinting that she has little room for manoeuvring as her hands are tied by Beijing.”

The government is likely to make the unpopular move of invoking the Emergency Regulations Ordinance in the near future
Ivan Choy, political scientist

Lam vowed last week to tackle the protests by legal means, including the ordinance.

If invoked, the ordinance would give the chief executive sweeping powers, covering media censorship, arrests, detentions and deportations.

“Given her experience in public service, Lam should have expected the risks of her remarks being divulged but she still chose to speak in a candid manner,” he said.

Some fear the unpopular emergency law will be invoked to quell the unrest. Photo: Sam Tsang

“She may have taken into account the negative impact, such as Beijing questioning her loyalty and public perception the government was losing its will to govern, if her remarks were divulged.”

Hong Kong has been rocked by mass protests triggered by the now-shelved extradition bill since June. The legislation, if passed, would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to mainland China and other jurisdictions with which the city does not have an extradition agreement.

‘All laws’, including emergency powers, on the table for Hong Kong leader

A source close to the government said it was Lam’s sense of responsibility towards Hong Kong, rather than a refusal by Beijing, which stopped her from resigning.

“She has a strong affection for Hong Kong and is not someone who will give up easily,” the source said.

Asked before her weekly Executive Council meeting on Tuesday if Beijing was preventing her from stepping down, Lam flatly denied it, claiming she had merely been trying to explain that resigning might be an easy option.

“I have not given myself the choice to take an easier path and that is to leave,” she said.

Hong Kong has been rocked by nearly three months of protest violence. Photo: EPA-EFE

A government source said the chief executive’s remarks needed to be understood in the context that she shared her thoughts in a candid manner during a private gathering under Chatham House rules.

“The chief executive can’t make decisions solely based on her personal views. She needs to take her official position into account,” the source said.

Transcript of Hong Kong leader’s leaked ‘quitting’ talk released

The source disagreed that Lam’s remark that she would quit given the choice was a sign of her administration losing the will to govern.

“The chief executive chose to stay on amid hard times and I don’t see the morale of the governing team being affected by the leak of the audio recording,” the source said, adding that Beijing had a deep understanding of Lam’s integrity and capability.

The central government won’t judge the chief executive’s loyalty based on a few remarks
Government source

“The central government won’t judge the chief executive’s loyalty based on a few remarks. Beijing has been giving its full backing for her to quell the unrest,” the source said.

Ivan Choy said Lam was fully aware that her controversial remarks would annoy Beijing.

“But she may not care too much as she is now in a desperate situation.” he said.

The source close to the government admitted the damage to the administration’s governing capability and perception of its autonomy vis-à-vis Beijing may have already been done because of the audio leak.

“The government can’t do anything if some people think it has its hands tied by Beijing,” the person said.

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