Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s bombshell withdrawal of extradition bill draws more scepticism than hope for end to weeks of protest turmoil
- Protesters and politicians say it is too little, too late but business chambers welcome decision
- Chief executive pledges to endorse probe by police watchdog and visit ground with officials to reach out to communities
Embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor dropped a bombshell on Wednesday, announcing she would formally withdraw the hated extradition bill that sparked the city’s protest crisis – but her dramatic U-turn drew more scepticism than hope for an end to nearly three months of turmoil.
Even though Lam was finally acceding to one of the demonstrators’ five demands, protesters and politicians alike argued the concession came too little, too late.
Many doubted it would do much to ease roiling tensions fuelled by increasingly violent clashes between protesters and police over the past 13 weeks.
Lam’s pro-establishment allies were among those leery of the move, fearful the flip-flop would affect their election chances in district council polls in November and Legislative Council elections next year.
Barely three hours after she appeared on a televised message, a group calling themselves representatives of protesters dismissed her withdrawal of the bill as applying a “Band-Aid to rotting flesh”.
All “five demands, not one less” had to be met before they would cease their actions, a protester representative said at a news conference outside the Legislative Council.