No unacceptable demands in HK dialogue

Responding to the violent incidents in Hong Kong over the weekend, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive of the special administrative region, promised on Tuesday that her government will do its utmost to build a dialogue platform with the public.

It is a positive sign that the SAR government remains open to hearing public opinions and is still willing to have a dialogue with Hong Kong society. Yet it is sad that she had to reiterate the administration's zero tolerance toward violence and unlawful acts, due to the continuing attacks on police officers and the vandalizing of public facilities and stores over the weekend, despite the olive branch that has been offered.

Which means there is still a big gap between those disturbing public order and Lam's plan. A gap that appears to be unbridgeable, since her administration will by no means swallow the pills the demonstrators prescribe, as it will directly shake the foundation of the "one country, two systems" framework and threaten China's sovereignty over the city.