Hong Kong’s leader has suspended the extradition bill after protesters stormed the parliament building in violent clashes that left 72 injured.
Carrie Lam today indefinitely delayed a proposed law to allow people to be extradited to mainland China for trial after widespread anger and large-scale protests in the Asian financial hub.
In one of the most significant climbdowns by the government since Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, Lam said the city’s legislature would stop all work on the bill.
She said the next steps would be decided after consultations with various parties.
Furious demonstrators had confronted police as anger grew over plans to allow extradition to mainland China.
About a million people marched last Sunday to protest the bill, according to organisers of the demonstration.
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: REUTERS)
The extradition bill, which will cover Hong Kong residents and foreign and Chinese nationals living or travelling in the city, has many concerned it may threaten the rule of law that underpins Hong Kong’s international financial status.
Street demonstrations through the week were met with tear gas and rubber bullets from the police, plunging the city into turmoil.
Dramatic video showed tear gas being fired at crowds after bricks and bottles were reportedly hurled at riot police.
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Protesters – mostly dressed in black – charged police with umbrellas, and ambulances were seen heading toward the protest area.
Masked demonstrators had been in a stand-off with authorities for days, with thousands blocking access to government buildings.
Seventy-two people were hospitalised, with two people in a serious condition in the intensive care unit.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Despite calls to disperse, defiant demonstrators said they would not stop until the bill was withdrawn.
“We won’t leave till they scrap the law,” one young man wearing a black mask and gloves told Reuters.
“Carrie Lam has underestimated us. We won’t let her get away with this.”
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
(Image: REUTERS)
Hong Kong’s government has claimed legally binding safeguards to prevent human rights abuses by China have been secured.
Beijing has been accused of torture and obtaining forced confessions by activists.
Hong Kong was a British colony between 1841 and 1997, when sovereignty was returned to China.
It has its own judicial system, government and currency, and basic human rights are protected under the mini-constitution established at the time.
