Chinese officials in charge of Hong Kong affairs are working on an action plan to present to the country’s leaders. Hong Kong police will be key to handle protests. Beijing continues to support Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, but she has to clean up “the mess she created.”
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – China is working on an action plan to deal with recent protests that have shaken Hong Kong.
According to the South China Morning Post, which cites "unidentified people familiar with the discussions ", Beijing has ruled out the use of military force and continues to support Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam.
However, this does not mean that Lam is off the hook. Instead, the mainland wants her to stay to clean up “the mess she created.”
The plan is still being worked out, and should be ready soon, before it goes before the leaders of China’s Communist Party. Nevertheless, for Beijing, the crisis is best left to Hong Kong authorities to resolve.
Nothing is said about the infamous extradition law that would have allowed Hong Kong to send “undesirables” to mainland China, and which sparked mass demonstrations in recent weeks.
What is certain is that Beijing wants to “ensure the financial hub remains largely stable,” and that Hong Kong’s police force can handle protesters.
At the same time though, China’s Communist leaders remain concerned to the extent that they are considering whether to cancel a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Macau, a former Portuguese colony, to mark the 20th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule.
According to some analysts, cited in background papers, Macao too could see mass protests.