Hong Kong’s leader backs down over controversial extradition bill

Editor’s note (June 16th 2019): On June 16th hundreds of thousands of protesters marched across Hong Kong Island to call for the permanent withdrawal of the extradition bill and the resignation of the region’s chief executive, Carrie Lam. At the day’s end the government issued a statement confirming that there was no timetable for restarting the passage of the bill. Mrs Lam also used the statement to apologise to the people of Hong Kong and “pledged to adopt a most sincere and humble attitude to accept criticisms and make improvements in serving the public.”

IT WAS a remarkable climbdown in the face of mass protests. Just three days after suggesting that to retreat would be like spoiling a child, Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, announced the indefinite shelving of a proposed law that would allow the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China. Mrs Lam now says she wants to avoid “chaos” in Hong Kong. Her U-turn came after the bill had provoked the biggest demonstration in many years, and another protest that escalated into the most violent social unrest in decades.