My Take | June 4 heralds a re-energised opposition
- The sea of people at the Tiananmen vigil shows how the government’s extradition bill has stirred pro-democracy forces and Hong Kong’s leader may pay a heavy price
That should surprise no one. The government’s extradition bill has galvanised the opposition, which in turn has been cheered on by foreign governments, especially Washington. The poll ratings of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor are at their lowest since she took office two years ago.
Everyday hardships and related livelihood issues – from long queues for public medical services to insane property prices – see no significant improvement under Lam. She had been lucky to have emerged unscathed from political hot potatoes such as allowing mainland officers to clear customs and immigration at the West Kowloon cross-border high-speed rail terminus.
Even the usually compliant Law Society has asked the government not to rush the bill through the legislature. And while Beijing clearly wants to see the bill passed quickly, it has only made relatively mild statements of support. If someone has to take the fall, it would be Lam.