Carrie Lam sticks to her guns on Hong Kong’s controversial extradition bill, but government will hear public concerns
- The chief executive says security minister John Lee and justice minister Teresa Cheng will address public doubts on Tuesday afternoon
- Lam also softens her tone from last week, saying she is willing to talk to opposition lawmakers, but there will still be no changes to the bill
Hong Kong’s leader has ruled out changing the government’s contentious extradition proposal, but said her top legal and security ministers will be responding to the public’s concerns on Tuesday afternoon to “facilitate discussions”.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also said she was willing to talk to opposition lawmakers and called for their cooperation, with the pro-democracy camp’s filibustering having stalled the legislative process since last month.
The proposed bill, which would allow the city to transfer fugitives to jurisdictions it lacks an extradition deal with, such as Taiwan and the mainland, was tabled at the Legislative Council last month.
Officials have stressed the urgency of passing the bill in time to extradite Chan Tong-kai, 20, who is wanted in Taiwan for his girlfriend’s murder.
Chan was jailed last week for 29 months on related money-laundering charges but could be released as early as October, leaving him potentially free to flee Hong Kong and escape extradition.
