A man has died after unfurling a banner protesting the proposed extradition laws from the side of a shopping mall, local media reports.
According to Hong Kong media Apple Daily, on the afternoon of June 14, a 35-year-old man wearing a yellow raincoat climbed up the scaffolding at Pacific Place mall and unfurled a banner calling for the complete withdrawal of the extradition bill and for Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam to step down. Written on the back of his raincoat was “Carrie Lam Kills Hong Kong.”
Less than an hour earlier, Lam announced that she was suspending the bill indefinitely, but refused to completely withdraw the controversial legislation. Critics, however, have called for her to scrap the legislation entirely and resign.
The extradition bill, which would allow people in Hong Kong to be transferred to mainland China for trial, has sparked mass protests over the last week, with opponents saying the measure would further erode the city’s autonomy and jeopardize its status as a leading financial hub.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Roy Kwong and other protesters had gathered on the street below, out of concern that the man was going to jump, Hong Kong Free Press reported, with some singing “Sing Hallelujah To The Lord” and shouting “Go back inside, keep holding on.”
Breaking: The man, who hung banner outside Pacific Place protest against #HongKong #ExtraditionBill & fell from the scaffolding, confirmed dead. 1st death related to the #ExtraditionLaw, & possibly 1st death in protest since 1997 sovereignty handover
Photo: @appledaily_hk pic.twitter.com/kf2reT2NaH— RealHKNews (@RealHKNews) June 15, 2019
According to Apple Daily, the man refused to engage with police negotiators.
At around 9:00 p.m., the man suddenly climbed over the scaffolding and fell about 65 feet onto the sidewalk after firefighters failed to hold him, Apple Daily reported. He died after being rushed to hospital.
Flowers and mourning notes are left where a man in yellow raincoat fell to death after putting on #AntiExtraditionBill banners atop Pacific Place Mall in Admiralty on Sat nite. Reverend Chu Yiu-ming arrived after midnight to lay a flower. pic.twitter.com/LFvaqbNpuc
— Xinqi Su (@XScmp) June 15, 2019
Mourners have since laid flowers and notes at the scene in remembrance of the man.
If you or someone you know is showing signs that they might be considering suicide, the suicide prevention hotline is available 24-7 for those in Hong Kong at 2382 0000. For urgent assistance, call 999.
Those in the United States can call 800-273-TALK or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Texts can also be sent to The Crisis Text Line at 741 741.
From The Epoch Times
