Hong Kong leader demands end of independence talk, warns ties with Beijing at risk

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam attends her first Question and Answer session at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's leader urged an immediate end to independence debates in the Chinese-ruled global financial hub on Tuesday, warning that the issue was harming the city's relationship with Beijing's Communist Party leaders.

Insisting that the government did not want to intervene on university campuses against those who have been flying independence banners, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the campaign was "organised and systematic" rather than simply an issue of freedom of speech.