- Title: Hong Kong legislature formally withdraws controversial extradition bill
- Date: 23rd October 2019
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (OCTOBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EMBLEM
- Embargoed: 6th November 2019 08:18
- Keywords: Hong Kong China extradition bill legislative council legco legislature lawmakers John Lee Ka-chiu
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA004B2BFRK7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Hong Kong's legislature on Wednesday (October 23) formally withdrew planned legislation that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, after enduring five months of unrest in the city.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam had reluctantly agreed to pull the bill two-and-a-half months after protests erupted in June. An earlier opportunity to withdraw was lost last Wednesday (October 16) when pro-democracy lawmakers heckled Lam and forced the suspension of the parliament.
If the bill was passed into law, residents could be extradited to Communist Party-controlled courts in mainland China, and it was seen as the latest attempt by Beijing to tighten its grip on Hong Kong, which enjoys an independent judiciary.
Despite the withdrawal, Hong Kong is not likely to see an end to months of unrest, as the move met just one of five demands of pro-democracy protesters, who were also calling for Lam to stand down and for an independent inquiry into perceived police brutality.
(Production: Chantha Lach, Juarawee Kittisilpa) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
