HONG KONG: Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Saturday (Jun 15) suspended a controversial extradition Bill which sparked massive protests, but she declined to step down despite calls for her to step down grew exponentially.

This is one of the most significant reversal of decisions by the government since Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Lam said the city’s legislature would stop all work on the Bill, “The government has decided to suspend the legislative amendment exercise, restart our communication with all sectors of society, do more … work and listen to different views of society.” “We have no intention to set a deadline for this work and promise to report to and consult members of the legislative council panel on security before we decide on the next step forward.”

The proposed extradition law was to cover Hong Kong’s 7 million residents and foreign and Chinese nationals living or travelling in the city. The bill was an attempt to threaten the rule of law by imposing dictatorship, as many believe.

The bill would have destroyed Hong Kong’s international financial status by arresting anyone and extradite a person to mainland China.

About 1 million people marched through Hong Kong last Sunday to protest the Bill, according to organizers of the march. Street demonstrations through the week were retaliated with tear gas and rubber bullets from the Hong Kong police, plunging the city into chaos. (Agencies)