LIVE UPDATES: Electors Who Voted in Chief Executive Carrie Lam Call for Her to Step Down

LIVE UPDATES: Electors Who Voted in Chief Executive Carrie Lam Call for Her to Step Down
A protester holds posters showing Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam before a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal in Hong Kong on June 9, 2019. (Dale De La Rey/AFP/Getty Images)

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

NTD Photo
Police officer fires tear gas at protesters during a demonstration against a proposed extradition bill in Hong Kong, China June 12, 2019. (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha)

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.

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.

NTD Photo
Hong Kong police fired off tear gas at the protesters on June 12. (The Epoch Times)
hong kong extradition protests
Protesters retreated to the street near the Far East Finance Centre in Hong Kong after police fired off tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. (Dennis Law/The Epoch Times)
hong kong extradition
Protesters retreated to the street near the Far East Finance Centre in Hong Kong after police fired off tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd. (Dennis Law/The Epoch Times)
tear gas hong kong protest
Police fired off tear gas on Tim Mei Avenue in Hong Kong on June 12, 2019. (Li Yi/The Epoch Times)
police hong kong clash with protesters extradition (1)
Police fired tear gas toward the protesters over 10 times near the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, on June 12, 2019. (Song Bilong/The Epoch Times)
police clash with hong kong protesters extradition
Police fired tear gas toward the protesters at the Admiralty Centre in Hong Kong, on June 12, 2019. (Li Yi/The Epoch Times)
hong kong extradition protest
At least 22 protesters were injured after Hong Kong police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and bean bags to clear the crowd, on June 12, 2019. (Li Yi/The Epoch Times)

From The Epoch Times

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