Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
Hong Kong Protests : Leader Carrie Lam

Hong Kong, July 2: Tens of hundreds of protesters took it to the legislature building on Monday on the anniversary of the territory’s 1997 status shift from British to China, destroying photos and staining walls with graffitis in a challenge to China, protesting against a controversial extradition bill which would permit suspects in the city to be sent to mainland China for court prosecution.

According to Dawn news reports, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam-led government called for an immediate halt to the violent demonstrations, stating the government had suspended all workings on the extradition law amendments, and that the bill would automatically lapse in 2020 July.

Though there were no immediate responses from the protesting group, a few were seen pulling back as the evening arrived.

The council – the mini-parliament – issued a red alert ordering the demonstrators to halt their protest and leave the streets immediately, though, it did not mention what would happen if protesters denied doing so.

The legislative council secretariat has released a statement, cancelling business for tomorrow. The central federal offices have stated they would be closed on Tuesday “owing to security consideration”.

On June 15, Lam suspended the bill after watching a few of the huge mass and violent protest in the nation.

“The incident that happened in recent months has led to controversies and disputes between the public and the government,” she said. “This has made me fully realise that I, as a politician, have to remind myself all the time of the need to grasp public sentiment accurately.”

Hong Kong’s political turmoil continued on July 1 as protesters tried to force ways into the legislative council building, adding more to tensions with armed forces ahead of a scheduled mass protest on the anniversary of the territory’s status change from British to China.

Since early morning, protesters have summoned outside the city’s Central Government Offices (CGO) council, moving huge crowd prevention barriers to bar various streets leading to the complex.

In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people have staged mass protests in the territory against a controversial extradition bill which would permit suspects in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China for prosecution and court trials.

The protesters’ demands include a full withdrawal of the extradition bill, revoking “riot” term describing protest on June 12, freeing all arrested activists, and probe into the police action.

 

Also read: Hong Kong protesters attempt to force way into Legislative Council premise ahead of handover rally

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