Update
Over 200 members from Hong Kong’s Election Committee have called on the Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to step down hours after she made a televised appearance vowing to press ahead with the controversial extradition bill.
According to Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao, members of the committee that elected Lam to the city’s top leadership position in 2017 expressed disappointment that she ignored public opinion, as over 1 million protesters—about 1 in every 7 Hong Kongers—had taken to the streets to oppose the bill on the weekend.
The 208 committee members who signed their names to the statement represent 17 percent of the near-1200-member committee.
Earlier Lam turned tearful in a television interview with Hong Kong broadcaster TVB, in which she admitted that the bill was controversial, but said she had “sacrificed” a lot for the city.
Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun, however, said that Lam was shedding “crocodile tears,” the Hong Kong Free Press reported.
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Hong Kong police said 72 people were injured, with two in critical condition, after local protests escalated on June 12, according to local media.
Tens of thousands had gathered peacefully outside the city’s legislature in protest of a controversial extradition bill that would allow mainland China to seek extradition of suspects wanted by the Chinese regime.
WARNING: The following video contains disturbing footage
Thousands took to the streets of #HongKong to protest an extradition bill that would allow the #Chinese regime to extract wanted suspects.
Local police used pepper spray, tear gas, rubber bullets, and bean bags in an attempt to remove protestors from the streets. pic.twitter.com/h0vClOcDgW
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) June 12, 2019
The proposed amendments have drawn opposition from across all sectors of Hong Kong society. Opponents say the bill could allow the Chinese Communist Party to charge and extradite within impunity, jeopardizing the city’s autonomy.
Around 3 p.m. local time, the scene descended into chaos after some protesters attempted to break the police line. Local police used pepper spray, tear gas, rubber bullets, and bean bags in an attempt to remove protestors from the streets.
Police throw tear gas into a crowd of protesters in #Hong Kong.
Protests against #HongKongExtraditionLaw escalated on June 12, with police using pepper spray, tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bags to dispel crowds.#HongKongProtests #HongKong #ExtradictionBill pic.twitter.com/dRKEVeSNcB
— The Epoch Times – China Insider (@EpochTimesChina) June 12, 2019
Riot police advance on protesters in during a day that descended into chaos in #HongKong.
Locals vowed to fight against the #ExtraditionLaw that would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial, saying it would cripple the city’s autonomy. #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/loIgynOi7i
— The Epoch Times – China Insider (@EpochTimesChina) June 12, 2019
The Hong Kong government said debate on the bill that was due to take place at the city’s Legislative Council (LegCo) on June 12 would be delayed until further notice. The LegCo is controlled by a pro-Beijing majority; the bill is thus likely to pass if it proceeds. LegCo head Andrew Leung has vowed to fast-track the bill and bring it to a vote on June 20.
Thousands took to the streets of #HongKong to protest the proposed extradition bill that would allow mainland #China to extract suspects wanted by the Chinese regime.
Local police used pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets in an attempt to remove protestors from the streets. pic.twitter.com/RFSxspwFeT
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) June 12, 2019
From The Epoch Times