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| Hong Kong Leader, Carrie Lam, Gets Jeered, Tainting Annual Address | Hong Kong Leader, Carrie Lam, Gets Jeered, Tainting Annual Address |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| HONG KONG — It was supposed to be a chance for Hong Kong’s embattled leader to lay out a sweeping vision that would guide the troubled city through the next year. | HONG KONG — It was supposed to be a chance for Hong Kong’s embattled leader to lay out a sweeping vision that would guide the troubled city through the next year. |
| Instead, the annual policy address by Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, on Wednesday turned into a political fight on the floor of the legislative chamber, highlighting the stark divisions that could make it difficult to resolve the tensions underlying the monthslong protests. | Instead, the annual policy address by Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, on Wednesday turned into a political fight on the floor of the legislative chamber, highlighting the stark divisions that could make it difficult to resolve the tensions underlying the monthslong protests. |
| The conflict began as soon as Mrs. Lam took her place at a lectern inside the chamber on Wednesday morning. Pro-democracy lawmakers, holding doctored photos of Mrs. Lam with blood on her hands, shouted insults and played audio clips of screaming protesters. | The conflict began as soon as Mrs. Lam took her place at a lectern inside the chamber on Wednesday morning. Pro-democracy lawmakers, holding doctored photos of Mrs. Lam with blood on her hands, shouted insults and played audio clips of screaming protesters. |
| After two failed attempts to give her speech, Mrs. Lam retreated. She later delivered the speech by video from a protected location. | After two failed attempts to give her speech, Mrs. Lam retreated. She later delivered the speech by video from a protected location. |
| Mrs. Lam, who is under pressure from China’s central government to bring an end to the increasingly violent protests that have become the most direct challenge to Communist Party rule in decades, emphasized Beijing’s hard line against calls for independence. She also focused on economic issues, sidestepping the contentious political demands that are at the center of the protests, including a call for free elections. | Mrs. Lam, who is under pressure from China’s central government to bring an end to the increasingly violent protests that have become the most direct challenge to Communist Party rule in decades, emphasized Beijing’s hard line against calls for independence. She also focused on economic issues, sidestepping the contentious political demands that are at the center of the protests, including a call for free elections. |
| “Any acts that advocate “Hong Kong’s independence” and threaten the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests will not be tolerated,” she said in the 50-minute speech. | “Any acts that advocate “Hong Kong’s independence” and threaten the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests will not be tolerated,” she said in the 50-minute speech. |
| Mrs. Lam’s remarks underscored Beijing’s calculation that the protests will eventually fade without the need to make further concessions. | Mrs. Lam’s remarks underscored Beijing’s calculation that the protests will eventually fade without the need to make further concessions. |
| Xi Jinping, China’s leader, is likely eager to bring an end to the protests, which have proved a distraction as he deals with a trade war with the United States and a slowing economy at home. But Mr. Xi’s government is likely also wary of a harsh crackdown in Hong Kong that would hurt China’s international reputation. | Xi Jinping, China’s leader, is likely eager to bring an end to the protests, which have proved a distraction as he deals with a trade war with the United States and a slowing economy at home. But Mr. Xi’s government is likely also wary of a harsh crackdown in Hong Kong that would hurt China’s international reputation. |
| Mrs. Lam offered a slate of economic policy ideas on Wednesday, including building artificial islands to provide more space for housing and providing cash allowances to low-income residents. | Mrs. Lam offered a slate of economic policy ideas on Wednesday, including building artificial islands to provide more space for housing and providing cash allowances to low-income residents. |
| But pro-democracy activists were quick to dismiss Mrs. Lam’s promises on Wednesday and vowed to continue filling the streets. | But pro-democracy activists were quick to dismiss Mrs. Lam’s promises on Wednesday and vowed to continue filling the streets. |
| “If you say to young people, ‘I’m giving you public housing, please don’t come out to protest’ — don’t count on it,” said Ray Chan, a pro-democracy lawmaker who heckled Mrs. Lam on Wednesday and projected an image of a popular protest slogan on stage. | “If you say to young people, ‘I’m giving you public housing, please don’t come out to protest’ — don’t count on it,” said Ray Chan, a pro-democracy lawmaker who heckled Mrs. Lam on Wednesday and projected an image of a popular protest slogan on stage. |
| In her speech, Mrs. Lam cast the popular revolt in Hong Kong, one of the world’s most economically unequal places to live, as discontent rooted in economic woes. She warned that the economy had slipped into recession, and said that expanding access to affordable housing was “fundamental to social harmony and stability.” | In her speech, Mrs. Lam cast the popular revolt in Hong Kong, one of the world’s most economically unequal places to live, as discontent rooted in economic woes. She warned that the economy had slipped into recession, and said that expanding access to affordable housing was “fundamental to social harmony and stability.” |
| In addition to proposing building artificial islands to host housing, Mrs. Lam said she would work to reclaim more than 400 hectares of private land over the next five years. | In addition to proposing building artificial islands to host housing, Mrs. Lam said she would work to reclaim more than 400 hectares of private land over the next five years. |
| But she studiously avoided politics in her speech, aside from reaffirming the formula that has governed the former British colony since its return to Chinese rule in 1997. Under that principle, known as “one country, two systems,” Hong Kong is considered an inalienable part of China, but its people are given many liberties denied to citizens on the mainland, including free speech, unrestricted internet access and the right to free assembly. | But she studiously avoided politics in her speech, aside from reaffirming the formula that has governed the former British colony since its return to Chinese rule in 1997. Under that principle, known as “one country, two systems,” Hong Kong is considered an inalienable part of China, but its people are given many liberties denied to citizens on the mainland, including free speech, unrestricted internet access and the right to free assembly. |
| Mrs. Lam, speaking at a news conference later in the day, dismissed criticism that she had done little to respond to political concerns. She faulted pro-democracy lawmakers for rejecting a 2014 plan to offer limited democracy in Hong Kong, and she said the city had sufficient autonomy. | Mrs. Lam, speaking at a news conference later in the day, dismissed criticism that she had done little to respond to political concerns. She faulted pro-democracy lawmakers for rejecting a 2014 plan to offer limited democracy in Hong Kong, and she said the city had sufficient autonomy. |
| “Hong Kong is still a very free society,” she said. | “Hong Kong is still a very free society,” she said. |
| At the heart of the movement is a concern that the Chinese Communist Party, through the pro-Beijing government in Hong Kong, is encroaching on the civil liberties that the city enjoys. Those worries have been reinforced by the government’s actions to quell the unrest, including invoking emergency powers to ban face masks during protests. | At the heart of the movement is a concern that the Chinese Communist Party, through the pro-Beijing government in Hong Kong, is encroaching on the civil liberties that the city enjoys. Those worries have been reinforced by the government’s actions to quell the unrest, including invoking emergency powers to ban face masks during protests. |
| “She does not attempt to explore the sentiments of the youngsters and the very nature of the existing conflicts and confrontations, but only to condemn them,” said Ivan Choy, a senior lecturer in politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong | “She does not attempt to explore the sentiments of the youngsters and the very nature of the existing conflicts and confrontations, but only to condemn them,” said Ivan Choy, a senior lecturer in politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| Mrs. Lam has been a target for ire ever since she pushed an unpopular bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, legislation that set off mass protests in June. | Mrs. Lam has been a target for ire ever since she pushed an unpopular bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, legislation that set off mass protests in June. |
| Many people in Hong Kong, which is now a semiautonomous territory, perceive Mrs. Lam’s administration as more beholden to the Chinese central government than to the city’s 7.4 million people. | Many people in Hong Kong, which is now a semiautonomous territory, perceive Mrs. Lam’s administration as more beholden to the Chinese central government than to the city’s 7.4 million people. |
| Small groups of protesters gathered outside government offices on Wednesday to call for Mrs. Lam’s resignation. | Small groups of protesters gathered outside government offices on Wednesday to call for Mrs. Lam’s resignation. |
| “She’s just out here to say something shallow to the people,” said Lee Chi-Wa, 56, an electrician. “Hong Kongers have no expectations left for her.” | “She’s just out here to say something shallow to the people,” said Lee Chi-Wa, 56, an electrician. “Hong Kongers have no expectations left for her.” |
| The legislative chamber where Mrs. Lam briefly stood was itself a reminder of one of the protest movement’s most dramatic escalations. | The legislative chamber where Mrs. Lam briefly stood was itself a reminder of one of the protest movement’s most dramatic escalations. |
| On July 1, the anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, demonstrators besieged and smashed their way into the offices, then defaced the room in which Mrs. Lam tried to speak on Wednesday. | On July 1, the anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, demonstrators besieged and smashed their way into the offices, then defaced the room in which Mrs. Lam tried to speak on Wednesday. |
| Clashes between the police and demonstrators have turned increasingly violent in recent weeks. On Sunday, a protester stabbed a police officer in the neck, the authorities said. In a separate incident on the same day, a homemade bomb was detonated, though it did not injure anyone. | Clashes between the police and demonstrators have turned increasingly violent in recent weeks. On Sunday, a protester stabbed a police officer in the neck, the authorities said. In a separate incident on the same day, a homemade bomb was detonated, though it did not injure anyone. |
| The escalating violence has drawn sharp denunciations from the mainland. The state-run media in China have repeatedly denounced the demonstrators as rioters who are working on behalf of foreign governments to bring about a revolution in China. But on Wednesday night, the head of a pro-democracy group behind a protest planned for Sunday said one of its leaders, Jimmy Sham, was attacked with hammers, though it was unclear who was responsible. | |
| Chinese officials on Wednesday continued to direct their anger at American officials over the protests, condemning the House of Representatives for passing legislation a day earlier that would make Hong Kong’s special trade protections with the United States contingent on an annual review of its autonomy. | Chinese officials on Wednesday continued to direct their anger at American officials over the protests, condemning the House of Representatives for passing legislation a day earlier that would make Hong Kong’s special trade protections with the United States contingent on an annual review of its autonomy. |
| Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said the legislation showed that some Americans had a “sinister intention to undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and contain China’s development.” | Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said the legislation showed that some Americans had a “sinister intention to undermine Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability and contain China’s development.” |
| “Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong,” he said at a regular news briefing in Beijing. | “Hong Kong is China’s Hong Kong,” he said at a regular news briefing in Beijing. |
| Mr. Xi delivered a harsh warning against separatism on Sunday, though he did not specifically mention Hong Kong. | Mr. Xi delivered a harsh warning against separatism on Sunday, though he did not specifically mention Hong Kong. |
| “Anyone attempting to split any part of China will only be ruined,” Mr. Xi said. | “Anyone attempting to split any part of China will only be ruined,” Mr. Xi said. |
| Tensions are likely to rise further ahead of elections in November to choose members of Hong Kong’s district councils. Pro-democracy activists worry that the government may try to disqualify candidates who have taken part in the protests on the grounds that they are separatists. | Tensions are likely to rise further ahead of elections in November to choose members of Hong Kong’s district councils. Pro-democracy activists worry that the government may try to disqualify candidates who have taken part in the protests on the grounds that they are separatists. |
| Victoria Hui, an associate professor who studies Hong Kong politics at the University of Notre Dame, said that it would be difficult for Mrs. Lam to deal with the unrest by vowing to tackle inequality. She said many residents are skeptical of promises by the government because it allowed Hong Kong’s social and economic problems to fester for years. | Victoria Hui, an associate professor who studies Hong Kong politics at the University of Notre Dame, said that it would be difficult for Mrs. Lam to deal with the unrest by vowing to tackle inequality. She said many residents are skeptical of promises by the government because it allowed Hong Kong’s social and economic problems to fester for years. |
| “The problems are so intractable,” Ms. Hui said. “Even if she can perform a miracle, it will be difficult to gain the trust of the public.” | “The problems are so intractable,” Ms. Hui said. “Even if she can perform a miracle, it will be difficult to gain the trust of the public.” |
| Reporting was contributed by Keith Bradsher and Ezra Cheung. Claire Fu contributed research from Beijing. | Reporting was contributed by Keith Bradsher and Ezra Cheung. Claire Fu contributed research from Beijing. |