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SCMP Reporters

The Hong Kong government is backing down and suspending its highly unpopular extradition bill, without setting a new time frame for its reintroduction. It maintains the legislation's intention of plugging legal loopholes is still valid.
At a press conference on Saturday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, using the words "suspension" and "halting" interchangeably, admitted her government had not communicated the need for the bill well enough. "I feel deep sorrow and regret that deficiencies in our work – and various other factors – have stirred up substantial controversies," she said.
The climbdown came in the face of two massive protests last week, one ending in violence and injuries to 80 people.
Organisers of the historic march on June 9, the Civil Human Rights Front, and the pro-democracy Confederation of Trade Unions have vowed to carry on with another march this Sunday.




As it happened: Carrie Lam backs down and 'suspends' Hong Kong extradition bill, sets no new time frame

Hong Kong protest organisers vow to press ahead with Sunday march despite government backing down on extradition bill – but Monday’s strike is off

News

Hong Kong

Politics

The Civil Human Rights Front’s convenor Jimmy Sham said Sunday’s march would go-ahead as planned. Photo: Edmond So

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor speaks to the media and urges schools, businesses and unions to think twice before going on strike in protest against the extradition bill legislation at the Chief Executive's Office in Tamar. 11JUN19 SCMP / Winson Wong

Hong Kong extradition bill

Carrie Lam

Crime in Hong Kong

Live

A lone podium has been set up at the government office's auditorium in Tamar, as local and international media gather to hear from Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yeut-ngor. A source said one reason for the postponement of the bill is to defuse tensions and ensure there will be "no more violence and bloodshed on the streets", after Wednesday's heavy clashes between protesters and police.
 


'No more violence and bloodshed'

During a press conference on Saturday morning, convener of the Civil Human Rights Front Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit vowed Hong Kong people would fight on until the government withdrew the bill and retracted its labelling of Wednesday’s protest as a “riot”.
“We have seen many times the tactics adopted by the Chinese Communist Party. They always gave us a heavy punch and then dragged along, hoping that Hong Kong people would feel less angry or even forget the issue as time passed,” Sham said.
"But this time is different. The government has fired so many rubber bullets and beanbag rounds. Hong Kong people will not forget. Hongkongers will fight on until the bill is withdrawn."
 


A main critic speaks

Carrie Lam arrives at the press conference alone, without any officials.


Lam arrives

Last year, there was a murder case in Taiwan, and the suspect fled to Hong Kong, she notes, adding that the victim’s family was very sad, and the case also exposed problems in the city's extradition system.


Leader cites Taiwan case

Lam says that, after studying the law, the government started to come up with amendments in February, and sought to maintain all the human rights safeguards in the current law. The government aimed at passing the law within this session.


Protecting safeguards

Because of the geographical restriction under the law, Lam continues, the government could not transfer fugitives to Taiwan, mainland China or Macau, and there was no way to deal with 170 countries without a bilateral agreement.
"I believe the government should try its best to find a way to resolve the legal loophole, while achieving justice for the deceased and improving Hong Kong’s legal system," she says.
She adds that she wanted to avoid the city being a "safe haven for the criminals".


Avoiding a 'safe haven for the criminals'

Lam says officials tried to narrow differences. But there were tens of thousands of people attending rallies and serious clashes, causing injuries to police officers, journalists and residents.



'We tried to narrow differences'

Lam says that since Taiwan authorities said they would not request the extradition of the murder suspect, the government’s bill is no longer urgent.

"After studying the matter in the last two days, I announce that we will pause the amendment," she says.


Pause confirmed

Referring to clashes between police and protesters on Wednesday, she says: “As a responsible government, we should defend law and order. But we also have to make a judgment call, and to protect Hong Kong’s best interest."


'We should defend law and order'

The city leader continues: "We will communicate with society, do more explaining, and listen more.
"The government will listen, with an open attitude, to opinions about the bill."


A pledge to listen to feedback

The Security Bureau will suspend the second reading of the bill and will not set a time frame on the seeking of public views, Lam says.


No time frame for public consultation

Lam says a society like Hong Kong's needs mutual respect. She says the government originally pushed ahead with the amendment because of its love for Hong Kong, and care for Hongkongers.
“Because of our inadequacies, we caused huge conflict in Hong Kong, which has been relatively quiet in the last two years,” she says.
“Many people we disappointed and saddened. I was also saddened and felt regret. We will sincerely and humbly accept criticisms and improve.”


'Sincerely and humbly accept criticisms and improve'

In response to a reporter's question, Lam makes clear the bill is not being withdrawn fully.
"We have two goals: the Taiwan murder case; and the loopholes," she says. "We might not be able to deal with the first one. But we still need to plug loopholes. So at this stage, I don’t think the bill can be withdrawn."


Not a full withdrawal

Lam is asked if she will step down.
She dodges the question and says that for her first two years in office, she has already tried to make a more harmonised society, even dealing with controversial legislation like co-location arrangements at the high-speed rail line. She says she feels saddened and regretful to have stirred up social conflict again.


Lam dodges resignation question

Asked if the police should retract the description of what happened on Wednesday as a “riot”, Lam says people can see from the TV footage that a lot of protesters used aggressive weapons against police officers.
“It was reasonable and natural for police officers to enforce the law, and it is also their mission to do so,” she says.


City chief defends police

Asked if she has embarrassed Beijing on the extradition issue, Lam says the central government has shown “understanding, trust, respect and support”.
She also says that while the bill is the work of the Hong Kong government, Beijing understands that Hong Kong is very different from the mainland, and sometimes it is not easy to do “good things” in Hong Kong.


Beijing's 'understanding, trust, respect and support'

In the third question posed to Lam, a reporter asks if the controversies around extradition were really about city residents' misunderstandings, or if the people of Hong Kong “deeply distrust” Beijing and think she represents the central government's interests.
She says she did not call it a misunderstanding. But she concedes that any policy which comes with a “mainland dimension” could give rise to confrontation.
She says the way forward is to air concerns, and to “increase confidence and allay the concerns”.


Inevitable consternation

Lam continues on the theme of whom she answers to.
She is responsible to Beijing and Hong Kong, she says, and her every act has to be lawful.
“Even if your boss, who pays your salary, asks you to do something unlawful, you would not do it,” she says.


Responsible to Beijing and Hong Kong

Lam says suspending the legislation was not intended to pacify people or repair her damaged reputation, but to restore calmness in society as soon as possible.
“In any confrontation I have seen on Wednesday, it’s very possible that  ... there will be even more serious confrontation. There may be more serious injuries for my police officers and citizens. I don’t want any of these injuries to happen,” she says.


Restoring calm

A local reporter asks if Lam will apologise to the public. She dodges the question.


No apology

Lam is asked why she did not suspend the bill after Taiwan and other outside parties expressed their views.
She says it was not possible for the government to make a big change every time a few opinions are aired.
But in the past week, she says, the situation has been worrying and saddening, so she made her latest decision to calm things down as soon as possible.


Why so long?

Lam says the government was delighted to have found a solution to the Taiwan murder case, instead of having to turn down repeated requests for justice from the deceased girl's parents.
"I can only say we’ve done our best, and hope Mr and Mrs Poon you will feel at ease,” Lam says. “Actually even if the bill was passed before July, the result may have been the same, because Taiwan already repeatedly made clear it would not deal with the outstanding case under this bill, and may not help the parents of the deceased."


More on Taiwan case

A reporter asks if Lam suspended the bill because she was worried about another mass protest on Sunday.
She says it has nothing to do with that.
She repeats that her decision was mainly to restore calm in society.
"On Wednesday, polarised views gave rise to violence, and very serious confrontation," she says.
"I needed to do something decisively to address the issue. How can I restore calmness in society and avoid more law enforcement officers being injured? I needed to ask my advisers, I needed to think it through. Our team has to deliberate. I did not wait until Monday."


'Not about Sunday's protest'

Lam will neither confirm nor deny the meeting with Han Zheng in Shenzhen, saying she has her "own schedule" and nothing to be announced or publicised. But she says the central government has been informed and maintained a supportive approach, and has confidence in her judgement.


No details on supposed Han meeting

On international concern about the bill, Lam counters that rectifying deficiencies in the city’s regime for fighting cross-boundary crime, such as money laundering, is what the government was asked by the international community to do.
“We are a member of a financial action task force ... There is this aspect we ranked very low, they said you better do it as priority. At least now I can say I made an attempt,” she says.


International response

In response to a question on what lessons the government has learned, Lam says the bill is contentious and not ready to begin the legislative process. She says the question now is how to engage the pro-government camp earlier in policymaking, as while the camp supports the bill, those with a business background have some concerns.


Engage pro-government camp earlier in policymaking

All eyes on Lam

Lam thanks the pro-establishment camp for its “strong backing”, and says she understands if its members and their supporters are disappointed. She hopes the camp will understand her decision.
“Our common goal is not to have polarisation and violence, affecting law enforcement and ordinary citizens,” she says.


Lam thanks supporters

Lam is again asked if she met Vice-Premier Han Zheng recently, and if it was Beijing who told her to suspend the bill.
She says: “The chief executive has a lot of items on her schedule every day. We can't tell you everything and I can't answer you directly. If I answer this question, there will be serious consequences for officials.”
She continues: “This decision was made by me. On Thursday and Friday I met a lot of people, including community leaders, and made this decision. I informed Beijing about it and they respected and supported it. It was not an order from Beijing."


'It was not an order from Beijing'

The chief executive is asked to comment on “excessive” police force during Wednesday's clashes, and the force’s description of what happened as a “riot”.
She says Hong Kong is a lawful society.
“Even as chief executive, I have to act lawfully," she says.
"I can't override the right of law enforcement bodies to decide who should be arrested. That would be unlawful. I am not going to interfere with their investigations, or the judicial proceedings."


'Not going to interfere' with police

Lam continues on the theme of police.
She says: “Everybody who watched the TV news from that day will notice that the police were doing defensive protection.
“What you have been told by the commissioner of police was that some, definitely not all, of the protesters were quite violent.
“If you have looked at some of the weapons the police seized, they were not something you would deploy at a peaceful protest. A large number of bricks were thrown at police. Cars were deliberately thrown in the road to obstruct the police. Some of my officials were ‘detained’ in the road because of the blockage.”


'Some of the protesters were quite violent'

Lam rules out the possibility of the bill being reintroduced at Legco this year, and stresses there is no time limit for listening to public views.
“Based on my experience in the government, this exercise of listening opinions could not even be done within this year,” she says.


No return this year

Lam says she still feels proud to be in public service.
“I still have tonnes of things I want to do for Hong Kong,” she says.
“I still hope to use my 40 years of experience to create a better future for Hong Kong.”


'Tonnes of things I want to do for Hong Kong'

The final question is from CTV, of Taiwan.
The reporter asks whether the government has no way to deal with the case of Chan Tong-kai, which the government said was the key motivation for the urgent amendments.
Lam confirms for the first time the government cannot extradite Chan to Taiwan. But she says the government will continue to liaise with Taiwan through existing channels, and explore ways to offer mutual legal assistance on criminal matters in future.


No way of extraditing Chan

At least three major business chambers welcome the suspension, with some noting a need for the government to explain the bill better to the public.
“We welcome the government’s decision to suspend resumption of the second reading of the extradition bill, which will allow things to cool down and let everyone return to rational debate,” said Aron Harilela, chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the city’s largest business group.
“We look forward to the government continuing to engage in constructive discussions with stakeholders and the public to address and eliminate doubts about the bill.”


Business groups welcome move

The suspension has not placated the pan-democrats in the Legislative Council, who still want the bill torpedoed and for Lam to resign.
The camp's convenor, Claudia Mo Man-ching, says: “If she refuses to withdraw the bill altogether, we will not retreat. She stays on, we stay on. She must scrap the labelling of what happened on Wednesday as rioting. She must release everyone that has been arrested in relation to what happened on Wednesday. The police must stop witch-hunting and arrest attempts, searches. Carrie Lam has lost all credibility among all Hong Kong people. She must step down.”


'She must step down'

The city's biggest pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, says it appreciates the suspension, in order to “move forward” amid polarisation.


DAB welcomes the move

Back over in the pan-democrat camp, Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok says: “We will of course not accept the government’s proposal to pause the bill. They should withdraw it."
He continues: “We want to thank members of the international community and the governments who have spoken out for the value of rule of law that we all treasure. On this incident, we see that they all stand behind Hong Kong people, surely Hong Kong people are grateful.”


'They should withdraw it'

Kwok's pan-democratic colleague James To Kun-sun, of the Democratic Party, criticises Lam for refusing to apologise.
“Without any apology, how can society discuss this calmly? Without Lam stepping down, the government can no longer govern Hong Kong; society cannot be calmed. The central government must consider this,” To says.


James To wants an apology and a resignation

Lam was asked seven times whether she would resign, in a solo press conference that lasted an hour and 15 minutes.
She never answered directly either way, but said she still had a lot to do as city leader.


Not stepping down

To get technical for a moment, what happened today was that the government withdrew the notice of the extradition bill's second reading, meaning the legislation is legally still alive.
So the government could still reintroduce it by giving 12 days' notice to the legislature, although Lam ruled out tabling it again this year.
In 2003, with the ill-fated national security law, the government first deferred the second reading in July, with the draft bill eventually withdrawn in September.
If the government has not reintroduced the extradition bill by July 2020, it will lapse and meet a natural death.


The bill is still alive

Over in Beijing, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office has issued a statement, stating its “support, respect and understanding” for Lam's decision.
It reiterated that the amendment was “necessary and appropriate” and Beijing supported the work done by the Hong Kong government. 
“The central government strongly condemns any violent acts and supports the police force ... for safeguarding the rule of law and stability in Hong Kong," the statement read.


Beijing backs suspension

The Civil Human Rights Front, the pro-democracy group which organised last weekend’s march that drew hundreds of thousands, is angry at what Carrie Lam said in her announcement.
It criticises Lam for, as the front sees it, not admitting her mistakes and praising police for what it calls excessive force in the earlier protests.
It calls on Lam to step down.
It has received the requisite notice of no objection from police for Sunday’s march.


Another call for resignation

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Committee, in a four-point statement, notes Lam's decision to suspend the bill and urges the Hong Kong government to respond to Taipei's requests for judicial assistance in the Chan case.
"It's impossible for us to accept the extradition bill, which violates human rights, freedom and our sovereignty," the committee says.
"Regarding the murder case of a Hong Kong woman ... we urge the Hong Kong government to respond to the requests of mutual judicial assistance we have raised."
The committee praises Hongkongers' determination and courage in defending their own freedom and called on the city government to listen to the people.


Taiwan reacts to Lam's climbdown

The chairman of the Bar Association, which represents the city's barristers, has spoken on the latest development. 
Philip Dykes says the government should shelve the bill, given its important implications, saying it had not been fully thought through.
“As a lawyer, I don’t like a half-baked bread,” Dykes says, speaking in a personal capacity. But he says he is ready to participate in the upcoming consultation.
Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, per sources, is willing to consider including a fair-trial clause in the bill.


'I don’t like a half-baked bread'

The United States' office in Hong Kong has also welcomed the news.
A spokesman for the consulate says: “The US government urges great care and taking into account the views of the local and international community should the Hong Kong government pursue any amendments to its extradition laws, particularly as they relate to mainland China."


US consulate chimes in

The extradition bill has been suspended by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, but the rally against it tomorrow will still go ahead. We will be bringing that to you live as well.
Meanwhile, follow our latest reports on the bill here.
