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Letters | What Hong Kong protesters should learn from the withdrawal of the extradition bill: Beijing loves the city too

  • Chief Executive Carrie Lam could not have announced the formal withdrawal without Beijing’s consent. This signals that the central government cares about the city
  • Protesters should now declare a truce to allow space for reconciliation

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A protester gives a thumbs up to a soldier from the People’s Liberation Army outside its building in Tamar, Admiralty, on August 31. Photo: Sam Tsang
With Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announcing that the government will formally withdraw the extradition bill, it is now time for the protesters to call a truce. This wouldn’t be the official end of a saga, but would allow for the healing of wounds and constructive talks to take place. The withdrawal of the bill is indeed huge, and positive, news for all in Hong Kong.

When the news of the full withdrawal of the bill was leaked, one could almost hear Hong Kong breathe a collective sigh of relief. The emotional weight that has been lifted by this development should bring home a core truth to us all: everybody loves Hong Kong, even Beijing.

Lam must have been finally authorised by Beijing to fully withdraw the bill. I have always held the view that Beijing genuinely has more faith in the positive value of the “one country, two systems” model than the general public thinks. The full withdrawal of the extradition bill reinforces that view. It shows Hongkongers that Beijing actually does care, indeed listens and wants Hong Kong’s unique system to thrive.

Hopefully a truce will yield a permanent end to a painful saga in Hong Kong’s history. It would allow the protesters to begin their path to reconciliation and give the government some breathing space to finally get its act together. A truce will also allow the Hong Kong police to re-centre itself as an organisation that protects its citizens as community partners.

We have been waiting for months to finally have a “good news day” and now it has finally arrived. Let’s hope a truce can ultimately result in a lasting peace, while at the same time addressing basic equity issues, such as affordable housing for all.

Justin Donovan, London

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