Friday 26 / April / 2024
Hong Kong: A controversial extradition bill that led to mass protests in Hong Kong is dead, the chief executive of the semi-autonomous city Carrie Lam announced.
According to Hong Kong Free Press, Lam said at a news conference, “"There are still lingering doubts about the government's sincerity or worries [about] whether the government will restart the process with the Legislative Council. So, I reiterate here, there is no such plan. The bill is dead."
"People do not have to worry that we should use some means to discuss this bill again within this legislature term.”
The proposed bill -- which protesters believe would pave an easy way to extradite people to mainland China -- has spurred weeks of violent protest in Hong Kong.
Lam stopped short of withdrawing the bill. She also said the demands for amnesty for those arrested were unacceptable under Hong Kong’s rule of law, according to Hong Kong Free Press.
Following huge protests, Lam declared the draft bill was suspended from discussing at the parliament two weeks ago, however, the protesters rejected her decision, demanding the full withdrawal.
Last week, hundreds of demonstrators stormed the parliament building as they continued to put pressure on the government to listen to their demand.
More than 15 protesters have been detained and many other face police charges for joining the protests that turned violent in time to time.
However, the protesting groups rejected her latest move, demanding the complete withdrawal of the draft bill.
Joshua Wong, a Hong Kong-based activist and secretary-general of pro-democracy party Demosisto, described Lam’s announcement as “another ridiculous lie to the people of #HongKong and foreign media.”
“Because the bill still exists in the ''legislative program'' until July next year,” he said in a series of tweets.
"The proper way for Mrs Lam to “kill” the bill is to invoke article 64 of the Rules and Procedures, to FORMALLY WITHDRAW the bill. However, she fully IGNORE this procedure in her speech."
Wong blamed Lam of continuing word-play by refusing “to promise a formal withdrawal despite public outcry”.
“Carrie Lam is a Habitual Liar,” he said.
“I think the key is whether she would Promise NOT TO initiate the bill again during her term. She has to make it clear.”
The autonomous region, which has been under China’s control since 1997, has witnessed protests since early June against the local government’s move to legalise extradition to mainland China, Macao and Taiwan.
At present, the region has an extradition treaty with 20 countries including the US and New Zealand.
Millions of people have held marches to stop the bill. Under pressure from the public, the government on June 15 postponed the reading of the bill in its legislative council.
