Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam has offered to resign on several occasions in recent weeks over mass protests in the territory but Beijing has refused to let her stand down, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation.
The demonstrations were sparked by an attempt by Ms Lam to push through an extradition bill that would allow criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial, with public opposition so heated protesters stormed the territory’s de facto parliament this month.
The situation has escalated into the territory’s deepest political crisis since its handover from British to Chinese sovereignty 22 years ago, prompting Ms Lam’s offer to stand down over her handling of the bill, the people with direct knowledge of the situation said.