Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam has said she will suspend a proposed extradition bill indefinitely following widespread anger and violent protests. The extradition bill, which if passed, would cover Hong Kong’s seven million residents and foreign and Chinese nationals living or travelling in the city, had many concerned it may threaten the rule of law that underpins Hong Kong’s international financial status. The Hong Kong government first launched the proposals in February, putting forward sweeping changes that would simplify case-by-case extraditions of criminal suspects to countries beyond the 20 with which Hong Kong has existing extradition treaties. “It’s a proposal, or a set of proposals, which strike a terrible blow ... against the rule of law, against Hong Kong’s stability and security, against Hong Kong’s position as a great international trading hub,” Hong Kong’s last British governor, Chris Patten, said on Thursday. Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam has said she will suspend a proposed extradition bill indefinitely.

Source: The Irish Times June 15, 2019 08:05 UTC