Chinese premier: confident Hong Kong social stability can be preserved, sticking to 2 systems

“Mong Kok protesters sitting down blocking Nathan Road, a hugely busy Kowloon thoroughfare. Quite a sight #HongKong” (Photo courtesy of Katy Lee on Twitter)

BERLIN—Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says he’s confident that “social stability” can be preserved in Hong Kong and is stressing that Beijing won’t change its “one country, two systems” approach to running the territory.

Li met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Friday as protesters arrived for a pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong—reviving a civil disobedience movement.

Li said that preserving the “long-term prosperity and stability” of Hong Kong is not just in China’s interest but in that of the former British colony’s residents. Speaking through an interpreter, he said the territory’s government will protect inhabitants from “injury or material damage.”

Merkel said she hopes demonstrations remain peaceful.