Hong Kong - Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam early Tuesday
criticized violent protesters who broke into and vandalized the
Legislative Council (LegCo) building amid continuing tumult
surrounding a controversial extradition bill.
At a press conference with security officials at police headquarters,
Lam drew a distinction between good and bad protesters.
"We have seen two entirely different public scenes," she said. One
was a "regular march on July 1" which she described as "peaceful and
generally orderly."
"This fully reflects the inclusiveness of Hong Kong society and the
core values we attach to peace and order," Lam asserted.
"The second scene that we have seen, which really saddens a lot of
people and shocks a lot of people, is the extreme use of violence and
vandalism by protesters who stormed into the Legislative Council
building over a period of time," Lam said.
"Nothing is more important than the rule of law in Hong Kong," the
chief executive stressed. She said those responsible for violently
entering the building and vandalizing the interior would be punished.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam listens to reporters questions during a press conference. Picture: Vincent Yu/AP
There have been no immediate reports of arrests in the wake of the
violence. Thirteen police officers were injured, officials said.
Lam reiterated that the contested bill allowing the extradition of
criminals to mainland China is not coming back.
"By suspending the bill at this point in time with no timetable and
no plan to resume the debate of the bill in the Legislative Council,
the bill will expire, or the bill will die in July 2020 when the
current LegCo term expires," Lam added, according to a transcript of
the press conference.
A group of demonstrators had stormed the Legislative Council on
Monday. Hundreds occupied the building in the evening after
destroying the glass front and parts of a fence.
They were part of a massive anti-government protest and gained entry
after hours of battering doors and glass panels with metal poles and
other items.
Police officers spray pepper spray as protesters use a cart to ram into the glass wall of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Picture: Steve Leung/HK01 via AP
Once inside, they spray-painted slogans on the walls and trashed
parts of the interior.
The violence in Hong Kong took place on the 22nd anniversary of the
July 1, 1997, handover of the former British colony to China.
Every year a march takes place on July 1 to protest against the
Chinese government. This year's anniversary was particularly tense
due to demonstrations against the extradition bill.
Combative protesters tried to break into the Hong Kong legislature Monday as a crowd of thousands prepared to start a march in that direction on the 22nd anniversary of the former British colony's return to China. Picture: Vincent Yu/AP
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China and was
guaranteed autonomy until 2047 when it returned to Chinese
sovereignty.
With the extradition bill, opponents see the long arm of Beijing
interfering in Hong Kong's domestic politics.
The bill, known as the Fugitive Offender's Ordinance, was introduced
following a case last year when a local man allegedly killed his
pregnant girlfriend while on holiday in Taiwan, but could not be
extradited as Taipei and Hong Kong do not share an extradition
agreement.
Protesters put a Hong Kong colonial flag and deface the Hong Kong logo at the Legislative Chamber after breaking in to protest against the extradition bill. Picture: Kin Cheung/AP
It would allow Hong Kong to extradite to jurisdictions where it does
not maintain a long-term extradition agreement on a case-by-case
basis.
The bill has sparked three major marches, two of them peaceful with
participants numbering in the millions. Another march on June 12 saw
police deploy pepper spray, rubber bullets and tear gas against
protesters.