Top Chinese official praises Lam for stabilizing Hong Kong

Hong Kong leer Carrie Lam received credit from a top Chinese official on Friday for restoring order and reviving ecomy in semi-automous territory.

Vice Premier Han Zheng, meeting Lam on last day of her four-day visit to Beijing, said that her government h “overcome all kinds of difficulties and dealt with challenges.”

Hong Kong was wracked by protests last year demanding fully democratic elections and opposing China's expanding influence in city affairs. Lam, who was picked as leer by a committee dominated by pro-Beijing members, was accused of being too close to central government.

China responded by enacting a national security law for Hong Kong earlier this year that has curtailed protests, which were alrey dwindling because of COVID-19 restrictions on public garings.

Han, one of seven members of ruling Communist Party's top leership body, praised Lam's government for its handling of pandemic, easing ecomic burden on population, implementing national security law and protecting stability of Hong Kong.

Lam was accompanied by several top city officials, which she said demonstrates breth of Hong Kong's integration into China's national development.

She was heing to Guangdong, sourn province that borders Hong Kong, later Friday for ecomic talks on Greater Bay Area, a region that also includes nearby Macao.