Hong Kong: Carrie Lam visits mosque struck by blue-dyed liquid

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam visited Kowloon Mosque, on October 21, after the riot police sprayed blue water-cannon dye during a violent protest. The embattled leader visited the mosque to seek apology from chief imam and Muslim community leaders.

Lam and police apologise

Lam was accompanied by police officials who also apologised at a press briefing. “To any people or any groups that were affected, we offer our genuine apologies,” said Cheuk Hau-yip, the Kowloon West regional commander. “We certainly do not have any malicious intent.

“Our mosque is not damaged, nothing is done wrong. Only thing is that they should have not done it. For that they apologized so we accept it,” said Saeed Uddin, honorary secretary of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong.

Read: Hong Kong Cops Fire Tear Gas As Protesters Defy Ban, Set Up Roadblocks

A pro-democracy leader goes live on Facebook

Pro-democracy lawmaker Jeremy Tam went live on Facebook in which a water cannon truck can be seen spraying blue-dyed liquid on few people standing at the gate of Kowloon mosque. Jeremy Tam claimed that Mohan Chugani, former chairman of the Indian Association of Hong Kong, and he was among the injured. 

Read: Hong Kong Protesters Use Masquerade As New Protest Tactic

Carrie Lam has been facing the wrath of pro-democracy lawmakers and protesters continuously. Earlier, she was forced out of the legislature after the pro-democracy lawmakers constantly heckled and jeered at her during her annual address on October 16. She had to finally deliver the speech through a video link to lay out the policy objectives. The hostile lawmakers were holding placards of Carrie Lam with blood on her hands and called Lam the ‘mother of the mafia police’. After Lam moved out of the legislative council, pro-democracy legislators held a news conference outside the building.

“She is just a puppet on strings, being played by Beijing,” said Claudia Mo, one of the protesting lawmakers.

During the address through video link, Lam said, “People are asking: Will Hong Kong return to normal? Continued violence and spread of hatred will erode the core values of Hong Kong.”

Read: Hong Kong: Man Stabbed, Protesters To Organise Unauthorised March

Read: Hong Kongers Set To Defy Police With Unauthorized Protest

(With AP Inputs)