HONG KONG — Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Saturday announced the government will suspend debate on an extradition bill that had prompted massive protests in the former British colony.
"We decided that it was important to return society to peace," Lam told reporters, referring to the huge demonstrations.
The announcement represented a huge victory for protesters in Hong Kong. Organizers have said they would not back down until the bill was withdrawn altogether, and on Saturday renewed calls for a planned march for Sunday.
The climb down followed formal warnings from U.S. and European officials, with international business and human rights groups saying that the changes would hurt the rule of law in Hong Kong, which was handed back to Chinese rule in 1997 amid guarantees of autonomy.
Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory, enjoys greater freedoms than mainland China under a "one country, two systems" framework put in place in 1997. Residents can freely surf the internet and participate in public protests, unlike in the mainland.
The bill was not definitively cancelled, Lam said, although she did not say when the debate might resume.
"The council will halt its work in relation to the bill until our work in communication, explanation and listening to opinions is completed," she said, adding that the government also had other priorities, including an expected economic downturn.
The controversial bill was introduced in response to a murder case in Taiwan where the suspect fled back to Hong Kong, revealing what Lam described as a "loophole in our regime with respect to mutual legal assistance on criminal matters."
Lawmakers said the bill was designed to simplify case-by-case arrangements to allow extradition of wanted suspects to jurisdictions including mainland China, Macau and Taiwan.
But opponents said the bill would severely compromise their freedoms and erode Hong Kong's legal independence, with fears over the fairness and transparency of the Chinese court system and worry about Chinese security forces contriving charges.
Lam maintained the legislation was necessary and would have safeguards to ensure human rights are protected.
Organizers say over a million people marched through the streets of Hong Kong last Sunday, amid a series of protests that turned violent and saw both police and demonstrators injured.
"Clearly, this is no longer a peaceful assembly but a blatant, organised riot, and in no way an act of loving Hong Kong," Lam said earlier in the week.
Lam again condemned the protests, but said the bill was no longer necessary for the moment.
"The original urgency to pass this bill in the current legislative year is perhaps no longer there," she said.
Lam did not apologize for the controversial bill, and dodged reporters' questions about whether she planned to resign as demonstrators have demanded. Instead, she said she had been acting in Hong Kong's best interests.
Laurel Chor reported from Hong Kong, Linda Givetash from London.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hong-kong-extradition-bill-sparked-massive-protests-may-be-suspended-n1017861
2019-06-15 07:44:00Z
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