Li Keqiang downplays Mong Kok clashes, says he’s confident in HK

(EJINSIGHT)BeijingbelievestheHongKonggovernmenthastheabilityandHongKongpeoplehavethewisdomtodealwithallkindsofcomplicatedproblemsandsituations,PremierLiKeqiangsaidWednesday.

LiwasreplyingtoaquestionaboutwhethertheMongKokclashesbetweenprotestersandpoliceonthenightofFeb.8highlightedtheproblemsinHongKongsociety,theHongKongEconomicJournalreports.

HemadehisremarksataninternationalnewsconferenceaftertheclosingsessionoftheNationalPeople’sCongressinBeijing.

TheycameafterChiefExecutiveLeungChun-yingsaidonMarch6afterameetingwithNationalPeople’sCongresschairmanZhangDejiangthatZhangwas“surprised”and“grieved”overtheunrest.

LididnotgiveadirectanswerwhenaskedwhathashappenedtoHongKong,sayingonlythatthecitywillmaintainitslong-termprosperityandstabilityandthathehasconfidenceinthecity’sfuture.

ThepremiersaidHongKong’s2.4percentgrowthratelastyearwasnotbadforanadvancedeconomy.

HesaidthecitystillhasroomtoexploititsownadvantageswhilegrabbingtheopportunitiesstemmingfromChina’sdevelopment.

LisaidBeijingwillsupportallthatisgoodforHongKongandthewelfareofitspeople.

HealsostressedthatBeijinghasbeenadheringandwillcontinuetoadheretotheprinciplesof“onecountry,twosystems”,”HongKongpeopleadministeringHongKong”and“ahighdegreeofautonomyforHongKong”asbasicstatepolicy.

LiignoredaquestiononwhetherhesupportedLeunginseekingre-electionin2017.

LauSiu-kai,vice-chairmanoftheChineseAssociationofHongKong&MacauStudies,wasquotedbyMingPaoDailyassayingthatLi’sremarksshowedthatBeijinghassetthetoneforthegovernanceofHongKongandthatevenincidentssimilartotheMongKokclasheswillnotchangethat.

ThesociologistsaidhealsoexpectsBeijingtochangeitsattitudetobecomemorewillingtointeractwiththepan-democraticcamp,whichhesaidshouldalsoseekroomfordialogueinsteadofcontinuingtochallengetheleadershipoftheCommunistParty.

PoliticalcommentatorWillyLamWo-laptoldAppleDailythatLi’sremarks,whichweremilderthanthoseofotherseniorofficials,suggestedthatBeijingistryingnottoaggravateyoungvotersinHongKongbeforetheLegislativeCouncilelectionsinSeptember.

However,Lamsaid,Beijing’scorestrategytowardHongKonghasneverchanged.

Meanwhile,LegcoapprovedWednesdayapetitionby24pan-democraticlawmakerstoformaselectcommitteetolookintotheMongKokclashes.