INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said she will follow the example of the 2011 London riots by setting up a committee to look at the causes of
the violence that has plagued the city.Pro-democracy candidates made huge gains in local council elections this week and Sky's Stuart Ramsay
asked Mrs Lam if it was now time to properly engage with the protesters.She did not offer any concessions, instead saying she would examine
ways to look at their underlying grievances.Image:Mrs Lam said officials must now 'engage the people'She said: "Like in the other places'
experience, particularly in the United Kingdom after the 2011 Tottenham riots, we are now modelling on that arrangement to set up an
independent review committee to look at the causes of the social unrest, which has lasted for so long in Hong Kong, to identify the
underlying problems, socio-economic or even political, and to recommend measures the government should take."I sincerely hope this will
provide us with a way forward."Months of battles between protesters and police have seen petrol bombs, water cannon and tear gas become a
regular sight on Hong Kong's streets.The unrest started over a now-withdrawn extradition bill but widened to cover a general call for more
democracy and a urge to push back against the influence of China's communist government.People came out to vote in record numbers in recent
days in what was seen as a referendum on the public's support for the protesters and their demands.Pro-democracy candidates won 90% of the
seats and took control of 17 out of 18 councils.Image:The voter turnout was a record 71%Mrs Lam said the election had "clearly reflected
that many voters wanted to express their opinions and views to the government, to myself" but that the views expressed were "quite
diverse"."There are people who want to express the view that they can no longer tolerate the violence on the streets," she said."There are,
of course, people who felt that our government has not handled competently the legislative exercise and its aftermath We have officially and
formally withdrawn the bill, which was the cause of all this social unrest."The next step, to go forward, is really as you have put it, is
to engage the people, and we have started public dialogue with the community."Pro-Beijing figures defeated in the election have blamed Mrs
Lam for their loss, while the protesters have reiterated calls for her to step down.17 Nov: HK police vehicle hit by petrol bombsThe UK
handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 under the principle of "one country, two systems"
However, many say the Beijing government is eroding the territory's freedoms.The "Tottenham riots" cited by Carrie Lam took place in August
2011.The unrest - which included looting, vandalism and arson - started in north London with protests over the shooting dead of Mark Duggan
by police, and spread to other areas of the capital, as well as other English cities.
