Hong Kong extradition bill to be withdrawn

(Hong Kong) The Hong Kong extradition bill that sparked months of protests is to be withdrawn, according to the New York Times. This comes one day after the Beijing government made a hard-line stance against the protests offering no middle ground.

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, announced the government’s plan to remove the bill on Wednesday. It was suspended in late June, however, and protestors grew suspicious as it was not formally withdrawn from the legislative floor.

The protests are reaching their third month in Hong Kong. The Times report states more than 1,100 people have been arrested since early June. In addition, the police have begun using violent methods against the crowds including pepper spray, batons, and rubber bullets.

While the removal was the initial goal of the protests, the list of demands has grown to five key parts. Those include the complete withdrawal of the extradition bill, retraction of the “riot” characterization, release and exoneration of arrested protesters, establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into police conduct and use of force during the protests, and direct elections for all lawmakers.

Many doubt that the news will lead to the end of the protests. Willy Lam, an adjunct professor in Hong Kong, told the Times the withdrawal “might pacify a small sector of the population but it will not have any impact on whether the waves of protests would subside.”

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

Hong Kong extradition bill to be withdrawn

(Hong Kong) The Hong Kong extradition bill that sparked months of protests is to be withdrawn, according to the New York Times. This comes one day after the Beijing government made a hard-line stance against the protests offering no middle ground.

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, announced the government’s plan to remove the bill on Wednesday. It was suspended in late June, however, and protestors grew suspicious as it was not formally withdrawn from the legislative floor.

The protests are reaching their third month in Hong Kong. The Times report states more than 1,100 people have been arrested since early June. In addition, the police have begun using violent methods against the crowds including pepper spray, batons, and rubber bullets.

While the removal was the initial goal of the protests, the list of demands has grown to five key parts. Those include the complete withdrawal of the extradition bill, retraction of the “riot” characterization, release and exoneration of arrested protesters, establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into police conduct and use of force during the protests, and direct elections for all lawmakers.

Many doubt that the news will lead to the end of the protests. Willy Lam, an adjunct professor in Hong Kong, told the Times the withdrawal “might pacify a small sector of the population but it will not have any impact on whether the waves of protests would subside.”

News
Read more ChinaAid stories
Click Here
Write
Send encouraging letters to prisoners
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Send your support

Fight for religious freedom in China

Scroll to Top