Hong Kong, June 18: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has on Tuesday hinted the end to the controversial extradition bill after seeing violent protests in the territory since the ex-British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
According to Reuters news reports, in a media conference, Hong Kong leaders apologized for the state of turmoil but however, refused to withdraw the bill.
The recent signal from Lam was the strongest indication the legislation was effectively shelved by the government that would permit suspects to be sent to mainland China for prosecution.
“Because this bill over the past few months has caused so much anxiety, and worries and differences in opinion, I will not, this is an undertaking, I will not proceed again with this legislative exercise if these fears and anxieties cannot be adequately addressed,” Lam told reporters.
When asked whether she would step down from the office, Lam refused to do so, stating important work still remained undone ahead in the coming three years, which would eventually bring her to the end of her tenure.
She said, “After this incident, I think work in the next three years will be very difficult … but myself and my team will work harder to rebuild public confidence.”
The leaders also apologized for plunging the territory into major turmoil, stating she did hear the protesters “loud and clear” and that she would try to reestablish trust.
A convener of Civil Human Rights Front, Jimmy Sham said, “Carrie Lam is continuing to lie,” adding, “We hope the people of Hong Kong can unite with us … to keep working hard to withdraw the evil law.”
A Democratic lawmaker, Alvin Yeung, said the leader again failed to decrease the heightened political temperature in Hong Kong, the city of seven million.“Hong Kong will not accept this,” he said.