Hong Kong protest organisers vow to press ahead with Sunday march despite government backing down on extradition bill – but Monday’s strike is off
- Civil Human Rights Front continues to drum up support for protest despite Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s announcement
- Confederation of Trade Unions renews calls for Lam’s resignation
Hong Kong’s pan-democrats vowed to press ahead with a protest on Sunday and called for the city’s leader to resign, despite the government suspending its contentious extradition bill on Saturday.
Three pressure groups that had planned strikes and class boycotts for Monday, however, scrapped their plans after the announcement.
On Saturday, the Civil Human Rights Front continued to appeal for support for Sunday’s march, as the government paused the passage of a bill that, if passed, would allow the city to transfer fugitives to jurisdictions it lacks an extradition arrangement with, including mainland China.
At a press conference, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the suspension would allow officials to “restart communication” with the public and prevent further clashes between police and protesters.
But the front’s convenor, Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, expressed disappointment at Lam’s remarks, and said by announcing a suspension of the bill, she had failed to address Hongkongers’ demand to withdraw the legislation.
