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Hong Kong’s Leader, Carrie Lam, Meets Lawmakers Amid Pressure to Pull Extradition Bill Hong Kong’s Leader, Carrie Lam, Pulls Extradition Bill That Ignited Protests
(about 1 hour later)
HONG KONG — Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, is scheduled to meet on Wednesday afternoon with members of her cabinet and pro-Beijing lawmakers as she faces pressure to withdraw the contentious extradition bill that set off months of protests in the city. HONG KONG — Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, said Wednesday she was withdrawing a contentious extradition bill that set off months of protests in the city, moving to quell the worst political crisis since the former British colony returned to Chinese control 22 years ago.
The move eliminates the major objection among protesters, but it was unclear if it would be enough to bring an end to intensifying demonstrations, which are now driven by multiple grievances with the government.
Mrs. Lam suspended the bill in June and later said that it was “dead,” but demonstrators have long been suspicious of her government’s refusal to formally withdraw the bill and feared it could be revived at a later date.Mrs. Lam suspended the bill in June and later said that it was “dead,” but demonstrators have long been suspicious of her government’s refusal to formally withdraw the bill and feared it could be revived at a later date.
Withdrawal of the bill, which would allow extradition to mainland China, has remained at the top of the list of protesters’ demands. But the list has grown to include an independent investigation into the police response, amnesty for arrested protesters and direct elections for all lawmakers and the chief executive.Withdrawal of the bill, which would allow extradition to mainland China, has remained at the top of the list of protesters’ demands. But the list has grown to include an independent investigation into the police response, amnesty for arrested protesters and direct elections for all lawmakers and the chief executive.
[What’s going on in Hong Kong? What to know about the protests.][What’s going on in Hong Kong? What to know about the protests.]
The South China Morning Post reported that Mrs. Lam was set to formally withdraw the extradition proposal.
Local media outlets reported that meeting would include Mrs. Lam’s cabinet, Hong Kong delegates to the National People’s Congress, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference members and pro-Beijing lawmakers.
Regina Ip, a pro-Beijing lawmaker and member of the Executive Council, Mrs. Lam’s cabinet, said the chief executive would meet with the council at 4 p.m. She said Mrs. Lam would be meeting with pro-establishment parties, too.
“I don’t know what it will be about,” Mrs. Ip said.
This summer has seen peaceful marches involving hundreds of thousands of people, as well as street protests by smaller groups who have become increasingly violent in recent weeks, throwing bricks and firebombs at the police. More than 1,000 people have been arrested since early June. The police, who have used batons, rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters, have faced allegations of excessive force.This summer has seen peaceful marches involving hundreds of thousands of people, as well as street protests by smaller groups who have become increasingly violent in recent weeks, throwing bricks and firebombs at the police. More than 1,000 people have been arrested since early June. The police, who have used batons, rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters, have faced allegations of excessive force.
Mrs. Lam’s move came a day after China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office had signaled an uncompromising stance toward the protests. “Whoever truly loves Hong Kong should clear their eyes and firm their stance,” Yang Guang, a spokesman for the office, said at a briefing in Beijing. “They should be crystal clear that there is no middle ground, no hesitance and no dithering, when it comes to stopping the violence and controlling riots in Hong Kong.”
A possible hint of a change in Beijing’s stand, however, came from the country’s leader, Xi Jinping. In a speech on Tuesday to the Party School of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, Mr. Xi called on rising party officials to show resolve for a long struggle but suggested that the leadership could adjust its tactics to achieve its aims.
“On matters of principle, not an inch will be yielded,” Mr. Xi said, “but on matters of tactics there can be flexibility.”
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed up 3.9 percent on Wednesday after news of the planned meeting emerged. Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong-based airline that has faced criticism from the Chinese government for its employees’ participation in the protests, climbed more than 7 percent.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed up 3.9 percent on Wednesday after news of the planned meeting emerged. Cathay Pacific, the Hong Kong-based airline that has faced criticism from the Chinese government for its employees’ participation in the protests, climbed more than 7 percent.
Withdrawal of the bill was the initial demand of protesters, and the rallying cry when, by organizers’ estimates, more than one million people marched on June 9 and nearly two million marched a week later, more than one in every four people in Hong Kong. But it is unclear if that step alone would now enough be enough to bring an end to the demonstrations, which have continued on a near-daily basis since then. Withdrawal of the bill was the initial demand of protesters, and the rallying cry when, by organizers’ estimates, more than one million people marched on June 9 and nearly two million marched a week later, more than one in every four people in Hong Kong.
On LIHKG, an online forum popular with protesters, several posts on Wednesday repeated longstanding calls not to compromise until all demands are met.On LIHKG, an online forum popular with protesters, several posts on Wednesday repeated longstanding calls not to compromise until all demands are met.
Full withdrawal of the extradition bill has long been seen as the easiest compromise that the government could make. But mainland Chinese officials had objected to that possibility, saying that doing so would suggest that the original intentions behind the legislation were mistaken.Full withdrawal of the extradition bill has long been seen as the easiest compromise that the government could make. But mainland Chinese officials had objected to that possibility, saying that doing so would suggest that the original intentions behind the legislation were mistaken.
Chinese officials had also said that any independent inquiry into the police’s conduct and other aspects of the unrest could not be started until the protests died down.Chinese officials had also said that any independent inquiry into the police’s conduct and other aspects of the unrest could not be started until the protests died down.
Saturday, the fifth anniversary of a decision by China’s legislature to put limits on direct elections in Hong Kong, saw some of the most intense clashes since the protests began. After a march by tens of thousands, some protesters gathered around the main government offices, hurling rocks and firebombs. Riot police fired tear gas and pumped blue-dyed water from trucks at protesters.Saturday, the fifth anniversary of a decision by China’s legislature to put limits on direct elections in Hong Kong, saw some of the most intense clashes since the protests began. After a march by tens of thousands, some protesters gathered around the main government offices, hurling rocks and firebombs. Riot police fired tear gas and pumped blue-dyed water from trucks at protesters.
Protesters built barricades and set fires, and the police later pursued them across several neighborhoods, arresting dozens. In a subway station in the Prince Edward neighborhood, officers from the police’s Special Tactical Squad entered a stopped train, hitting people who were crouching on the floor with batons and dousing them with pepper spray.Protesters built barricades and set fires, and the police later pursued them across several neighborhoods, arresting dozens. In a subway station in the Prince Edward neighborhood, officers from the police’s Special Tactical Squad entered a stopped train, hitting people who were crouching on the floor with batons and dousing them with pepper spray.
The Chinese government initially ignored this summer’s protests, then began to condemn them in increasingly strident tones, warning that the military could be called in. Images of Chinese police officers and paramilitary troops conducting antiriot drills in Shenzhen, a mainland city near Hong Kong, were given regular coverage by state media outlets.The Chinese government initially ignored this summer’s protests, then began to condemn them in increasingly strident tones, warning that the military could be called in. Images of Chinese police officers and paramilitary troops conducting antiriot drills in Shenzhen, a mainland city near Hong Kong, were given regular coverage by state media outlets.
On Friday, the police in Hong Kong arrested several prominent activists and three pro-democracy lawmakers as a crackdown on the opposition intensified.On Friday, the police in Hong Kong arrested several prominent activists and three pro-democracy lawmakers as a crackdown on the opposition intensified.