Thousands of mothers have marched in Hong Kong in support of students who have been protesting against an extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial.
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Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has asked to meet students in the Chinese-ruled city as she tries to fend off pressure after a month of protests over a proposed law that has plunged the Chinese-ruled city into turmoil.
Protesters stormed Hong Kong's legislature on Monday, the 22nd anniversary of the former British colony's return to China.
This followed mass demonstrations last month against Lam's extradition bill.
Beijing-backed Lam has suspended the bill but protesters are demanding a full withdrawal.
Primary school teacher Carina Wan, 40, took part in the mothers' march on Friday.
"Young people have already done a lot for us. We should at least stand out once for them. I am so distressed for them. Even though they seem a little bit violent ... they didn't hurt anyone," she said.
"The ones who hurt us is the government. If they don't release the young people, we will keep standing out."
The organisers estimated that 8000 mothers had joined the march, while the police put their number at 1300.
Lam's spokeswoman said on Thursday that Lam had started inviting young people of different backgrounds for a meeting, including university students and people who have participated in the protests.
The student union at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, one of eight major higher education institutions, turned down the offer, saying Lam had requested a closed-door meeting.
"The dialogue must be open to all Hong Kong citizens to participate, and allow everybody the right to speak," the union said in a statement published on Facebook.
Lam's spokeswoman said the meeting would be held in a "small-scale and closed-door manner" to ensure an "in-depth and frank exchange of views".
Hong Kong University Students' Union leader Jordan Pang said he would only agree if the government promised not to investigate protesters involved in the protests.
"We don't understand why she didn't openly respond to the people's demands but prefer to do it through a closed-door meeting," Pang said.
"We want to ask if the government sincerely wants to communicate with young people or if it's just another political PR show."
The Hong Kong Bar Association renewed calls for the government to set up an independent inquiry to look into events on June 12, when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters, and also on Monday when demonstrators stormed the legislature.
"HKBA calls on the government to respond in a sincere way to the demands of the community voiced so emphatically over the past weeks," it said.
"A refusal to engage with the public over important and pressing issues is inimical to the rule of law."
Australian Associated Press
