Hong Kong Postpones Second Reading of Controversial Extradition Bill

Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Legislative Council on Thursday postponed for a second consecutive day, a session in which the second reading of the highly contentious extradition bill was expected to be held. “The President of the Legislative Council has decided that the Council meeting will not be held today (Thursday). Announcement will be made once the President determines the time of the meeting,” LegCo said in a statement on its website.

This announcement comes after tens of thousands of people showed up outside the headquarters of the HK legislature on Wednesday demanding the withdrawal of the extradition bill, reports Efe news. The huge protests were finally dispersed by the police using batons, tear gas and rubber bullets with 72 left wounded, including two in critical condition.

The proposed law has run into opposition across a broad social spectrum from students to entrepreneurs who have expressed concern about the risk that HK residents accused of crimes could be extradited to mainland China, owing to the lack of real separation of powers or control mechanisms. (IANS)

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