Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, has said her government will formally withdraw an extradition bill that has ignited months of protests and plunged the territory into its biggest political crisis in decades.

In a five-minute televised address on Wednesday, Lam said her government would formally withdraw the controversial bill to “fully allay public concerns”.

The bill, which would have allowed the extradition of suspects to China to be tried under the mainland’s opaque judicial system, prompted the start of mass protests in June that have led to increasingly violent confrontations with police and the arrest of more than 1,000 people.

“Our citizens, police and reporters have been injured during violent incidents,” Lam said. “There have been chaotic scenes at the airport and [mass transit railway] stations; roads and tunnels have been suddenly blocked.

“For many people, Hong Kong has become an unfamiliar place.”

Lam shelved the bill in June, and in July again insisted it was “dead” after weeks of protest from demonstrators who argued it could be revived if it was not formally withdrawn.
With Wednesday’s announcement, Lam has now conceded to one of five key demands of the demonstrators. However, the chief executive did not respond to protesters’ other demands, which include an independent inquiry into police behaviour, amnesty for those arrested, and democratic reforms to give Hong Kong residents universal suffrage.

Lam said she did not believe the government should establish an inquiry to look into police behaviour, deferring to an existing police watchdog agency, the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC). Lam said she would be adding two new members to the council.

Instead, Lam proposed “four actions to help society move forward,” including pledges to follow up recommendations from the IPCC and set up a platform for dialogue, inviting community leaders and experts to advise the government on social issues.

The Guardian

BDST: 2202 HRS, SEPT 4, 2019
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