Hong Kong government scrambles to save face as extradition bill backlash threatens to paralyse legislature
- Embattled administration fights behind the scenes, while possibility of a cabinet reshuffle has been raised
- Lawmakers from both sides expect little to be achieved in Legco over the next few months
Hong Kong’s embattled government is working behind the scenes to save face under the threat of business being paralysed in the legislature after it was forced to suspend its controversial extradition bill amid mass protests and violent clashes on the streets.
The Transport and Housing Bureau appeared to be the first victim of collateral damage, with a source revealing that officials had tried to lobby opposition pan-democrat lawmakers to save them from embarrassment over funding for a controversial residential project, as they feared their political allies might not be supportive.
The possibility of a cabinet reshuffle has also been raised, with Anna Wu Hung-yuk, a former member of the Executive Council, telling the Post that Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor should consider appointing new advisers to embrace a wider spectrum of views.
“Given the inadequate political representation and imbalance in political franchise as of now, the one basic form of accountability of the chief executive and the government is to listen attentively to the views of the public and to demonstrate that it will respond to the public positively,” Wu said.