Special Report: Hong Kong leader says she would 'quit' if she could, fears her ability to resolve crisis now 'very limited'

FILE PHOTO: Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam attends a news conference in Hong Kong, China August 5, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she has caused "unforgivable havoc" by igniting the political crisis engulfing the city and would quit if she had a choice, according to an audio recording of remarks she made last week to a group of businesspeople.

At the closed-door meeting, Lam told the group that she now has "very limited" room to resolve the crisis because the unrest has become a national security and sovereignty issue for China amid rising tensions with the United States.