Hong Kong Protests: Controversial China Extradition Bill ‘Is Dead’ But No Formal Withdrawal

The controversial extradition bill which spurred weeks of protest "is dead" says Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, but stopped short of a formal withdrawal, reports CNN.

The extradition bill, if it had been passed would have given the Chinese state the right to extradite any Hong Kong based dissident to face prosecution in mainland China. However, Lam admitted that the legislative process had been a "complete failure" and said there was "no such plan" to restart debates over the bill and as of 18 June the bill was suspended.

Lam expressed her sincere apology and said, “The cause of these grievances are caused by the government. There are still lingering doubts about whether the government will restart the bill. There is no such plan. The bill is dead."

Unprecedented protests, reaching into millions, were witnessed in Hong Kong demanding an immediate and full withdrawal because as it would have garrotted freedom of speech in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a former British colony that was handed over to China only in 1997 as per an agreement between the governments.

There is a growing demand for Lam to resign but Beijing's influence over the method of selecting the chief executive would ensure that even a successor, if Lam resigns, would be compliant to Beijing’s directives.