Ms Lam said Hong Kong had "reached [a] dangerous situation" and that violence during protests would push it "down a path of no return". She was met with hostility as she dodged questions by reporters, who repeatedly shouted and cut her off. Meanwhile protests are continuing for a fifth day at the city's busy airport. Mass unrest has rocked Hong Kong for 10 weeks and shows no signs of abating.
Large protests started in response to a proposed extradition bill, which has now been suspended, but have evolved into a more demanding pro-democracy movement. Protests are fuelled by fear that the freedoms Hong Kong enjoys as a special administrative region of China are being eroded. Ms Lam's comments came a day after hundreds of flights had to be cancelled when thousands occupied the city's international airport. Dozens more have been cancelled on Tuesday, as demonstrators continue to gather.
