NewsHero (beta) - Under Pressure From Continued Protests Hong Kong Withdraws Extradition Bill
October 26, 2019 - Issue 3
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Under Pressure From Continued Protests Hong Kong Withdraws Extradition Bill
Murder suspect who prompted controversial bill freed from prison
A pro-democracy protester being detained by riot police on Oct. 21. Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
The Hong Kong government announced this week that it was withdrawing a controversial extradition bill that sparked months of protests for democratic change. The bill, seen as an example of Chinese authorities clamping down on Hong Kong’s high level of autonomy, could have allowed Hong Kong to send criminal suspects to places where it has no extradition agreement, including mainland China, Taiwan, and Macau.
“I now formally announce the withdrawal of the bill,” Secretary for Security John Lee told the city’s legislature. “Civil unrest” was cited as a reason for the withdrawal, but there are no signs that the removal of the bill will quiet the protests, now in their fifth month.
The long-expected scrapping of the bill was overshadowed by the release from a Hong Kong prison of the murder suspect at the center of the extradition case controversy. Chan Tong-kai, who completed a separate sentence for money laundering, told reporters after his release that he wished to turn himself in to authorities in Taiwan, where he’s wanted for killing his pregnant girlfriend, Poon Hiu-wing.
Chan admitted to Hong Kong authorities that he killed his pregnant girlfriend in Taiwan in 2018, but they were unable to prosecute or extradite him because of the absence of an agreement with Taiwan.
Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, used Chan’s case as an example for the need for a wide-ranging extradition bill. Lam’s policies have stoked fears of Beijing’s creeping influence over Hong Kong.
It was reported this week that Beijing is considering replacing Lam. Quoting sources, the Financial Times said the Chinese government is developing a plan to replace Lam with a possible successor who could be installed by March. Asked by CNBC if there are plans for a leadership change, a representative of the Hong Kong’s Chief Executive’s Office said it would not comment on speculation.
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