Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam declares extradition bill 'dead' - but stops short of withdrawing it
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday the extradition bill that drew millions to the streets in protest was “dead,” and admitted that the government’s work on the proposal had been a “total failure", but stopped short of saying it was withdrawn entirely. Her remarks are unlikely to calm demonstrators who have called for the proposal to be scrapped completely over fears the government could table it again anytime, despite saying, “I reiterate here, there is no such plan – the bill is dead.” Leading activist Joshua Wong, 22, called her remarks “another ridiculous lie,” because “the bill still exists in the legislative programme until July next year.” Hong Kong protests: riot police baton charge and fire tear gas to clear demonstrations at parliament, in pictures Ms Lam’s “refusal to acknowledge the consequences of the fatal flaws of the extradition bill continues to inflame the situation in Hong Kong,” said Man-kei Tam, director of Amnesty International Hong Kong, a right...
