China opts for low-key coverage of Hong Kong extradition bill withdrawal
- Comments and hashtags disappear as the authorities muffle backlash after weeks of rhetoric
- One analyst says that Beijing is worried about mainland citizens believing that protests can achieve results
Observers also noted that none of the central government agencies with responsibility for Hong Kong – the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, the foreign ministry commissioner’s office and the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong – have made statements since Lam’s remarks. This is in contrast to their immediate responses after she announced the bill’s suspension on June 15.
A Hong Kong government source said this was because the suspension was a major decision but Wednesday’s announcement was more procedural.
“Unlike [the suspension decision], the withdrawal of the bill only involves procedural matters. This is why the central government agencies did not issue statements about the latest move,” the source said. “There is no need to read too much into it.”
The low-key approach was reflected in official media, including People’s Daily and Xinhua News Agency, which all had measured coverage of the news on Wednesday. China Daily , which mainly caters to a foreign audience, carried an editorial on Wednesday night with the headline: “HK protesters now have no excuse to continue violence”.