Hong Kong leader announces withdrawal of controversial extradition bill
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of an extradition bill that triggered months of unrest and threw the Chinese-ruled city into its worst crisis in decades, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The announcement, in an internal meeting with pro- establishment lawmakers and Hong Kong delegates of China’s National People’s Congress, came just two days after Reuters revealed that Lam told business leaders last week she had caused “unforgivable havoc” by introducing the bill. If she had a choice she would apologize and resign, according to a leaked audio recording.
The protests against the bill in the former British colony began in March but snowballed in June and have since evolved into a push for greater democracy.
The bill would have allowed extraditions to mainland China where courts are controlled by the Communist Party,
Via Reuters
