The controversial Hong Kong extradition bill, which prompted the ongoing protest crisis in Hong Kong, is set to be formally withdrawn by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.
According to the South China Morning Post, a government source said that Lam will make the announcement emphasizing that the decision to withdraw the Hong Kong extradition bill was to streamline the legislative agenda and is a technical procedure. The Legislative Council is scheduled to reopen in October following its summer break.
The bill would enable the government to extradite criminals even to jurisdictions without a treaty with Hong Kong, including mainland China. This has been previously suspended by Lam but critics pointed out that as long as the bill is on the legislative agenda, it can still be revived within the current Legislative Council’ term of office.
Despite Lam’s suspension of the bill, approximately 2 million people held protests on June 16 and more people have joined ever since. Lam then declared that the bill would not be tabled again but critics said that the Hong Kong leader is prideful and does not want to appear to be backing down.
The government source added: “The chief executive started to change her mind after meeting with 19 city leaders two weeks ago. She heeded their views on how to deescalate the tensions.” This is in reference to a gathering held by senior city leaders and politicians at Lam’s residence on August 24 to discuss how they can talk with the demonstration leaders and help ease the effects of the protest crisis.
Lam invited all 43 pro-establishment lawmakers, along with Hong Kong deputies to the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, to a meeting this Wednesday afternoon at her official residence in Government House.
