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| Carrie Lam Meets With Hong Kong Residents in Bid to Quell Protests | Carrie Lam Meets With Hong Kong Residents in Bid to Quell Protests |
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| HONG KONG — After months of criticism that she has failed to address protesters’ concerns, Hong Kong’s embattled leader, Carrie Lam, on Thursday held her first community talk at a heavily guarded stadium. | HONG KONG — After months of criticism that she has failed to address protesters’ concerns, Hong Kong’s embattled leader, Carrie Lam, on Thursday held her first community talk at a heavily guarded stadium. |
| Mrs. Lam said earlier that she would be prepared to listen in order to better understand the frustrations of the public and to receive “constructive suggestions.” | Mrs. Lam said earlier that she would be prepared to listen in order to better understand the frustrations of the public and to receive “constructive suggestions.” |
| During the event, protesters, including students in uniforms, formed human chains in the roads leading to the stadium. About 100 people gathered outside the venue, chanting that their demands be met. | |
| The community talk has been held up by Mrs. Lam’s government as a crucial step in restoring trust after months of large protests and increasingly violent clashes between the police and residents. The demonstrations began in response to an extradition bill and turned into a broader movement against China’s influence over the semiautonomous territory. | The community talk has been held up by Mrs. Lam’s government as a crucial step in restoring trust after months of large protests and increasingly violent clashes between the police and residents. The demonstrations began in response to an extradition bill and turned into a broader movement against China’s influence over the semiautonomous territory. |
| Hong Kong is bracing for more protests and clashes in the coming week, with demonstrations likely to happen on Saturday, the fifth anniversary of the start of the 2014 Umbrella Movement; on Sunday, in a global march against totalitarianism; and on Tuesday, Oct. 1, which is China’s National Day holiday. This year it marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. | Hong Kong is bracing for more protests and clashes in the coming week, with demonstrations likely to happen on Saturday, the fifth anniversary of the start of the 2014 Umbrella Movement; on Sunday, in a global march against totalitarianism; and on Tuesday, Oct. 1, which is China’s National Day holiday. This year it marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. |
| [What to know about Hong Kong’s protests.] | [What to know about Hong Kong’s protests.] |
| The government said the community talks on Thursday were designed to be open to participants with a wide variety of political views. The 150 participants invited to the 3,500-seat stadium in the Wan Chai district on Thursday were selected through a lottery from more than 20,000 people who had filled out online registration forms. | The government said the community talks on Thursday were designed to be open to participants with a wide variety of political views. The 150 participants invited to the 3,500-seat stadium in the Wan Chai district on Thursday were selected through a lottery from more than 20,000 people who had filled out online registration forms. |
| Ballots were to be drawn among the participants to see who would have an opportunity to speak for a maximum of three minutes. | Ballots were to be drawn among the participants to see who would have an opportunity to speak for a maximum of three minutes. |
| People were searched before entering the stadium. Protective gear commonly worn by protesters, including respirator masks and helmets, were banned. Large flags and banners, bottles and cans, umbrellas and amplifiers were also not permitted. | People were searched before entering the stadium. Protective gear commonly worn by protesters, including respirator masks and helmets, were banned. Large flags and banners, bottles and cans, umbrellas and amplifiers were also not permitted. |
| Police officers were seen carrying shields and pepper spray into the venue hours before the event began, in preparation for expected protests outside. Most restaurants and bars in the area closed early. | Police officers were seen carrying shields and pepper spray into the venue hours before the event began, in preparation for expected protests outside. Most restaurants and bars in the area closed early. |
| In July, Mrs. Lam had offered to speak with students in closed-door meetings, but university student unions publicly rebuffed the idea, calling for more transparency. In a closed meeting with businesspeople, Carrie Lam said she would quit if she could, according to a leaked audio recording published by Reuters. | In July, Mrs. Lam had offered to speak with students in closed-door meetings, but university student unions publicly rebuffed the idea, calling for more transparency. In a closed meeting with businesspeople, Carrie Lam said she would quit if she could, according to a leaked audio recording published by Reuters. |
| “It remains this government’s hope that conversation will triumph over conflict and that through its actions, calm can be restored and trust can be rebuilt within the community,” Mrs. Lam wrote in an Opinion article published Thursday in The New York Times. | “It remains this government’s hope that conversation will triumph over conflict and that through its actions, calm can be restored and trust can be rebuilt within the community,” Mrs. Lam wrote in an Opinion article published Thursday in The New York Times. |
| She also wrote that in an upcoming policy address she would be laying out “bold initiatives to tackle deep-seated problems, such as access to affordable housing.” | She also wrote that in an upcoming policy address she would be laying out “bold initiatives to tackle deep-seated problems, such as access to affordable housing.” |