The Chief Executive of Hong Kong – Carrie Lam has announced that the Government has decided to suspend the controversial extradition bill.
The suspended extradition bill, if implemented, would have allowed China, Taiwan and Macau to place extradition request for suspects accused of criminal wrongdoings. The requests would have then been decided on a case-by-case basis. However, Hong Kong Courts would have the right to make the final decision.
The bill has been suspended owing to the mass protests in Hong Kong. The Government believes that suspending the bill will help in restoring peace in Hong Kong. This also means that the proposed debate on the bill in the Legislative Council (LegCo) which has to be held on Thursday, June 20, 2019 has also been cancelled.
Speaking on the bill suspension, Carrie Lam said, “We have made many attempts to narrow differences and eliminate doubts. In the last week, tens of thousands of people took part in protests and gatherings. Serious conflicts broke out resulting in a number of police officers, media workers and other members of the public being injured. I am saddened by this.”
The announcement came after violent clashes broke out between the police and protestors on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, when tens of thousands of people gathered outside the LegCo and blocked the roads that lead to the building.
Thousands protest in Hong Kong over China extradition Bill
Prior to this, on Sunday, June 9, 2019, more than 1 million people took to the streets of Hong Kong in a peaceful march, expressing their anger the extradition bill. Dressed in white, the protestors chanted slogans like, “No China extradition, no evil law”, “Carry off Carrie”. The protestors carried yellow umbrellas, which became the symbol of passive resistance during 2014 protest, where people demanded more transparent elections from China.
Before the Lam’s announcement of bill suspension, the Civil Human Rights Front has issued a warning to Government stating that the mass protest will go ahead, even if the bill is put on pause. The Democratic Party had said the people will continue to protest in black till the time bill is withdrawn and Lam steps down.
Addressing the media, Lam also blamed herself for not communicating the importance of extradition bill effectively to the public.
Expressing grief over the protest, Lam said, “I feel deep sorrow and regret that the deficiencies in my work and other factors has stirred up deep dissatisfaction and controversies in society.”
She even mentioned that the main reason for moving the extradition bill was the case of a 19-year-old Hong Kong man who allegedly murdered his 20-year pregnant girlfriend while they were on a holiday in Taiwan. The accused then returned to Hong Kong and couldn’t be extradited to Taiwan because there is no extradition treaty between these 2 Asian countries.
Reacting to Lam’s announcement, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Committee, has urged Hong Kong to respond to their extradition request of the accused who killed his girlfriend in Taiwan.
In a statement, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Committee said, “Regarding the murder case of a Hong Kong woman, we urge the Hong Kong government to respond to the requests of mutual judicial assistance we have raised.”
The committee has also praised Hong Kong’s efforts in defending their own freedom and called on the Government to listen to the people.
