The bill would mean Hong Kong would have to extradite fugitives to the mainland of China. Hong Kongers fear the deal would open up the 7 million or so residents of the city to political prosecution from mainland authorities and undermine the autonomy that has been granted until July 1 2047. On Monday’s anniversary of the handover from Britain to China, a public holiday in Hong Kong, the Legislative Council, the HK equivalent of the House of Commons was stormed and ransacked.
As Yahoo News reports, the colonial era British flag was hung in the debating chamber and the city emblem defaced.
Describing the scenes as “heartbreaking and shocking”, Mrs Lam told reporters: “This is something we should seriously condemn because nothing is more important than the rule of law in Hong Kong.”
Stephen Lo, the commissioner of the Hong Kong Police Force added: “Protesters’ violent acts have far exceeded the bottom line of peaceful expressions of demands.”
The protestors had started off peaceful but protestors have been resisted in their demands for Mrs Lam to resign and permanently shelve extradition plans.
READ MORE: Hong Kong protest timeline: What will happen NOW?
One female protestor, who only went by the name of Joey, told AFP: “We have marched, staged sit-ins but the government has remained unmoved, we have to show the government that we won’t just sit here and do nothing.”
Previous protests had resulted in clashes between the police force and protestors.
The legislative council building was closed on Tuesday as it is cleaned up.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said British support for Hong Kong and “its freedoms is unwavering” but urged restraint from protestors.
Hong Kong protestors have been able to stop government plans before, Article 23, a law against any subversion of the central government in Beijing was blocked after over half million people protested in Hong Kong in 2003.
A similar law was passed without incidence in another special administrative region, Macau.
Hong Kong and Macau operate under a system of “One Country, Two Systems” which allows the territories to retain a separate political, economic and legal system to Mainland China.
Xi Jinping, China’s President has kept quiet to allow Mrs Lam to eat with the issues.
With Mrs Lam being elected after having the backing of 777 of a 1,200 member Election Committee, which is widely considered to be pro-Beijing, she has faced criticism she is nothing more than a Beijing puppet, so Mr Xi would be keen to not amplify the suggestions.
However, this development has led to speculation he will get more involved in what is an unparalleled situation for him in Hong Kong.
That would likely anger protestors who spray-painted “Hong Kong is not China” in the Legislative Council complex.