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Carrie Lam: Hong Kong extradition bill withdrawal backed by China Carrie Lam: Hong Kong extradition bill withdrawal backed by China
(32 minutes later)
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said the Chinese government "understands, respects and supports" the withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said the Chinese government "understands, respects and supports" the withdrawal of the city's controversial extradition bill.
The bill would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China from Hong Kong.The bill would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China from Hong Kong.
Seen as further evidence of China's tightening control over Hong Kong it sparked months of protests. It was seen as evidence of China's tightening control over Hong Kong, and sparked months of protests.
However, the withdrawal is unlikely to placate protesters who say it has come too late. The withdrawal is unlikely to placate protesters, who say it comes too late.
In her first appearance since the announcement to formally withdraw the already-shelved bill on Wednesday Ms Lam took questions from reporters. In her first appearance since the announcement to formally withdraw the already-shelved bill on Wednesday, Ms Lam took questions from reporters.
When asked who made the decision to withdraw the bill she said: "Throughout the whole process... [from] the early stages of taking forward the bill [to] then withdrawing the bill yesterday, the central people's government has respected my view and supported me all the way." Asked who made the decision to withdraw it, she said: "Throughout the whole process... [from] the early stages of taking forward the bill [to] then withdrawing the bill yesterday, the central people's government has respected my view and supported me all the way."
It comes days after the release of a leaked audio of Ms Lam by Reuters implying the Chinese government had earlier rejected Ms Lam's proposal to withdraw the bill and ordered her not to yield to any of the protesters' other demands. It comes days after the release of leaked audio of Ms Lam, which implied the Chinese government had earlier rejected her proposal to withdraw the bill and ordered her not to yield to any of the protesters' other demands.
The pro-Beijing leader also addressed concerned that the bill would actually be formally withdrawn, saying that there would be no "debate [or] vote" when parliament resumed. The pro-Beijing leader also addressed concerns over whether the bill would actually be formally withdrawn, saying there would be no "debate [or] vote" when parliament resumed.
The bill quickly drew criticism after being unveiled in April. Critics said it would undermine Hong Kong's legal freedoms and might be used to intimidate or silence critics of Beijing. Hong Kong is a part of China under a One Country Two Systems model, which means it enjoys freedoms not seen on the mainland, including its own legal system and borders. Rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are also protected.
When the government refused to back down, it triggered months of protests - with mass rallies on the streets and violent clashes with police - which have since morphed into a broader anti-government movement calling for greater freedoms. When the extradition bill was unveiled in April, it quickly drew criticism. Opponents said it would undermine Hong Kong's legal freedoms and might be used to intimidate or silence critics of Beijing.
Hong Kong is a part of China under a One Country Two Systems model, which means it enjoys freedoms not seen on the mainland including its own legal system and borders. Rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are also protected. When the government refused to back down, it triggered mass rallies on the streets. The protests, which have sometimes seen violent clashes between police and demonstrators, have since morphed into a broader anti-government movement calling for fuller democracy in Hong Kong.