Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has finally met some demands of protesters in a decision that placed her on an opposite footing to Beijing.
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HONG KONG, WEDNESDAY – Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has finally met some demands of protesters in a decision that placed her on an opposite footing to Beijing.
Lam announced that the government would withdraw the proposed extradition bill from the legislature in an effort to commence dialogue on solutions for Hong Kong.
"I offer four steps to start a dialogue. One of them is [that] the government will officially withdraw the bill to meet the aspiration of the citizens. The Security Ministry will submit a motion in accordance with the rules when the legislative council meets," she said on Wednesday.
The announcement comes a few days after a revelation that Beijing forbade Lam to withdraw the bill. Beijing also barred Lam from investigating allegations of police violence during the widespread demonstrations that protesters held to reject the controversial bill.
Lam has acted against one of Beijing\'s bans with Wednesday’s announcement, and has only kept the ban on investigating the Hong Kong police. She said there was no need for an independent investigation because Hong Kong had an Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) that was responsible for handling such matters.
The IPCC has reportedly reviewed the allegations of police violence by forming a panel of experts that also included foreign experts.
"I promise the government will follow up on the IPCC’s recommendations," said Lam, who stressed that the protesters’ three other demands would not be met.
In addition to the complete withdrawal of the bill and an independent investigation into the police, the protesters also demanded the release of all those arrested in connection with the protests and that all charges against them be dropped, a free election, and to stop using the term “rioters” to refer to the protesters.
Lam said it was impossible to drop the charges laid against those who had been arrested, and that the matter was a decision for the courts, without any interference. "That is against the law and cannot be accepted," she said.
Regarding the demand for a full democracy, she welcomed discussions on the issue that followed to the rule of law. "Our response to the five demands was made with full consideration and delivered on various occasions. I understand this cannot satisfy all grievances," Lam said.
Mixed reactions
Lam\'s announcement has received mixed reactions. The Hang Seng Composite Index (HSCI) of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange rose 4 percent after the announcement. The property index also rose, even as the various parties involved in the protests expressed their dissatisfaction. The announcement was “too little too late", said Joshua Wong, a leading pro-democracy activist.
Other activists said that they would continue with the protests following the announcement. "This movement will not end just like that. The announcement was too late," said Kex Leung, the president of the provisional executive council of the Education University student union, who was involved from the beginning of the series of anti-extradition bill protests.
Ordinary citizens also believed that the protests would continue. "This announcement will not calm the protesters," said Boris Chen, 37, who works in the financial sector.
Pan-democracy activist, journalist and legislative councilor Claudia Mo said too much damage had been caused because Lam had failed to respond quickly, and said that Lam\'s announcement was insufficient.