Hong Kong protests show limit of ‘one country, two systems’, Malaysia’s Mahathir says
- The prime minister said Beijing might use force to end the current impasse if it persists
- The city’s leader announced two days ago that she was scrapping a bill that triggered the demonstrations
“I never thought that a country with two different systems can really work for any length of the time, and sure enough this has happened,” the premier said during an interview with NHK public television.
“If they cannot handle this and this does not stop and the demands become more and more for autonomy or independence, then I think the Chinese will not tolerate that.”
But activists have vowed not to stop protests until their other demands are met, including an independent probe into alleged police brutality against protesters, the unconditional release of those detained and greater democracy.
Women on the front lines of Hong Kong’s anti-government protests
The proposed legislation would have allowed the transfer of criminal suspects to jurisdictions the city does not have an extradition deal with, including mainland China.
The protests have become increasingly violent in recent weeks. Hong Kong officials have said they can handle the unrest without the help of mainland security personnel.
Mahathir was in Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto on Friday to receive an honorary doctorate from Doshisha University and to visit hi-tech companies.
