Hong Kong to suspend contentious extradition bill indefinitely

cde.news desk 15 June 2019, 07:40 · 1 min read

epa07642472 Protesters set up barricades on a main road during a rally against amendments to an extradition bill near the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China, 12 June 2019. The bill, scheduled for a second reading on 12 June has faced immense opposition from pan-democrats, the business sector, and the international community, would allow the transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions which Hong Kong does not have a treaty with, including mainland China. Critics of the bill have expressed concern over unfair trials and a lack of human rights protection in mainland China. EPA-EFE/JEROME FAVRE

On the defensive after days of huge street protests, Hong Kong’s chief executive is preparing to indefinitely suspend her push to adopt a contentious extradition bill after consulting with her superiors in mainland China, people familiar with the discussions said.

Delaying the bill would be a remarkable reversal for the pro-Beijing chief executive, Carrie Lam, who had vowed to ensure its approval and tried to get it passed on an unusually short timetable, even as hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against it this week. Another large protest is planned for Sunday.

City leaders hope that delaying the bill, which would allow extradition to mainland China, will cool public anger and avoid more violence in the streets, people with detailed knowledge of the government’s plans said.

Via NYT

Topics BreakingNews Hong Kong