Image copyright
AFP
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said the controversial bill that would have allowed extradition to the Chinese mainland “is dead”.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Ms Lam said the government’s work on the bill had been a “total failure”.
But she stopped short of saying it had been withdrawn completely, as protesters have been demanding.
The bill sparked weeks of unrest in the city and the government had already suspended it indefinitely.
“But there are still lingering doubts about the government’s sincerity or worries whether the government will restart the process in the Legislative Council,” Ms Lam told reporters.
“So, I reiterate here, there is no such plan. The bill is dead.”
She had previously said the bill “will die” in 2020 when the current legislative term ends.
- The background you need on the Hong Kong protests
- Did Hong Kong violence sway public opinion?
Critics of the legislation argue it would undermine the territory’s judicial independence and could be used to target critics of the Chinese government in Beijing.
Hong Kong, a former British colony, is part of China but run under a “one country, two systems” arrangement that guarantees it a level of autonomy.
It has its own judiciary and a separate legal system from mainland China.
Image copyright
AFP
Police used teargas during their clashes with protesters
Demonstrations continued even after the government had suspended the proposed bill in mid-June, with several protests turning violent.
On 1 July protesters forced their way into the central chamber of Hong Kong’s parliament after an hours-long siege.
Many of the demonstrators are also calling for Ms Lam to step down, and for police not to prosecute those arrested during the protests.
- Young, radical and ready for tear gas
- The extradition bill explained
Thousands took to the streets on 7 July in an area popular with mainland Chinese tourists, in a bid to explain their concerns over the bill.
Media playback is unsupported on your device