Chinese President Xi Jinping showed his unwavering support for Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam on Monday (December 16) saying that he recognized her courage during quote ''the most complex and difficult'' past year.
Hong Kong media have speculated that Lam's talks with Xi could yield fresh directives on the city's political crisis, including a possible cabinet reshuffle - or a replacement for Lam.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING SAYING:
"We will continue to be unwavering in supporting you (Carrie Lam) to lead the Hong Kong special administrative government to govern in accordance with the law, supporting the Hong Kong police to firmly uphold the law and hope people from all walks of life in Hong Kong will unite and bring the development of Hong Kong back to the right track."
His comments came the morning after Hong Kong police fired multiple rounds of tear gas in late night street clashes, as the former British colony's worst political crisis in decades dragged into its seventh month.
Protesters are still angered by what they see as Chinese meddling in freedoms promised to Hong Kong when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Xi said that Lam had continued to uphold the "one country, two systems" principle that promises Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and liberties - such as freedom of the press.
However, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that press freedom in Hong Kong had come under an accelerating squeeze despite China's pledges.
Hong Kong entered its first recession in a decade in the third quarter, with tourism and retail the worst hit by the often violent protests.