Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yeut-Ngor vowed on Monday to go ahead with the controversial extradition law amendment despite a million people protesting against in on the streets the day before.
Lam noted that a large number of people rallied on Sunday but said there were also positive views on the move, so the government would continue to explain the need for the bill to the community. She spoke at a media briefing at government headquarters on Monday morning with Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah and Security Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu.
Lam said the government would ensure the legal protection of human rights and ensure that safeguards were legally binding by making a policy statement.
She also made it clear that she did not intend to back down or delay the bill, which will go to the Legislative Council for a second reading on Wednesday.
Lam denied that she had ignored any views against the extradition law amendment – saying instead that she and her team listened “attentively” and “humbly” to suggestions. Lam referred to suggestions made by pro-government political parties in regard to a proposal on regular reports provided by the government on extraditions to the Legislative Council.
The Hong Kong leader also denied that she had an emergency meeting with officials from the mainland on Sunday when one million people rallied on the street and denied receiving any instruction from Beijing on the issue.
When asked about the protesters’ call for her to step down, Lam rejected any such move.
“I have been the Chief Executive of Hong Kong for about two years. I have spent every moment of my time to work for the benefit of Hong Kong – every aspect,” she said in an emotional reply, adding that, “I think I will continue to do this in my utmost ability and to address the issues and concerns of Hong Kong people.”
Violent clashes, statement
The 40-minute press conference was the first appearance after an estimated 1.03 million people rallied on Sunday and violent clashes between police and hundreds of protesters who tried to storm the Legislative Council complex in the early hours of Monday.
The clashes broke out when police tried to clear protesters gathered outside the Legislative Council building in Admiralty on Hong Kong Island after the end of the city’s biggest ever rally.
The Hong Kong government issued a statement on Sunday shortly after the rally ended, saying it had already “listened attentively to views expressed and responded positively to suggestions made” and insisted the bill would still go to LegCo’s full council as planned on Wednesday for a second reading.
Several hundred protesters, mainly young people, stayed outside the LegCo building to respond to the call made on Sunday evening by the pro-independence group Studentlocalism and Hong Kong Independence Union. The groups called on protesters to sit in and to surround LegCo.
The protesters rammed police officers with metal barriers and threw bottles at them during chaotic scenes, while police officers fired peppy spray and hit the protestors with batons. Protesters, three police and journalists were hurt during the clashes.
Other protesters were pushed back when riot police arrived. They attempted to put barricades in the middle of the road to make roadblocks – at Tamar Park, Lung Wo Road and the Central Waterfront Promenade – but failed. Police from the special tactical squad fired pepper spray and was able to disperse the mob.
At around 2 am, close to 100 protesters gathered on Harcourt Road but they were eventually dispersed. A further 200 protesters were confronted outside of the former Wan Chai police station – surrounded by police for clearance action which ended on Monday morning.
Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung condemned the violence committed a minority of protesters, saying they had ruined Hong Kong’s tradition of peaceful protests, local broadcaster TVB reported. He said the police would investigate all footage of the rally, including clips shown by media organizations, to hunt down those responsible for the clashes.
Meanwhile, the pro-democracy party Civic Party said the government officials should be the ones condemned, as their arrogance and ignorance caused the clashes.
In a radio phone-in program on Monday, people who participated in the rally said they understood young people’s anger and their violent actions because of the voice of people in Hong Kong people was being ignored by the government.
Read: Why Hong Kong won’t go quietly to China
Read: More than a million HK people rally against extradition law
I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thank you, I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I’m glad that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
hey there and thank you on your info – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from proper here. I did alternatively experience a few technical points using this site, as I skilled to reload the web site lots of instances prior to I may just get it to load correctly. I have been puzzling over if your web hosting is OK? No longer that I am complaining, however sluggish loading circumstances occasions will sometimes have an effect on your placement in google and can harm your high quality ranking if advertising and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much extra of your respective exciting content. Make sure you replace this again very soon..
Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
Great article and straight to the point. I don’t know if this is truly the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thx 🙂
I really like studying and I think this website got some truly utilitarian stuff on it! .
he blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks
Just wanna tell that this is very useful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
naturally like your web site however you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very bothersome to tell the truth nevertheless I will definitely come back again.
whoah this weblog is great i really like reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You recognize, lots of persons are hunting round for this info, you could aid them greatly.
Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
Hello, Neat post. There is an issue along with your site in internet explorer, could check thisK IE still is the marketplace leader and a large component to other folks will omit your fantastic writing due to this problem.
bonjour I love Your Blog can not say I come here often but im liking what i c so far….
Really Appreciate this article, how can I make is so that I get an update sent in an email when you publish a fresh article?
whoah this blog is great i love reading your articles. Keep up the great work! You know, lots of people are searching around for this information, you could aid them greatly.
I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to reach my goals. I definitely liked reading everything that is posted on your blog.Keep the tips coming. I enjoyed it!
You made a few fine points there. I did a search on the topic and found a good number of folks will agree with your blog.
I’m curious to find out what blog system you happen to be working with? I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest site and I’d like to find something more secure. Do you have any recommendations?
Wonderful site. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to a few friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks in your effort!