Hong Kong Withdraws Controversial Extradition Bill That Incited Weeks of Violent Protests

On Wednesday, the Hong Kong government formally withdrew an extradition bill that caused violent protests around the country, according to AP News.

“The government will formally withdraw the bill in order to fully allay public concerns,” Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said. “Our foremost priority now is to end violence, to safeguard the rule of law and to restore order and safety in society.”

The bill, which officials claimed would make Hong Kong safer, would allow any country to request extradition from Hong Kong, including mainland China, according to the BBC. The controversy ensued because many believe that people would “be exposed to China’s deeply flawed justice system, and it would lead to further erosion of the city’s judicial independence.”

Though the bill has officially been withdrawn, protesters are still not satisfied.

Pro-democracy lawmaker, Claudia Mo, stated that not all of the protester’s demands have been met.

“[Lam] has been fast asleep these three months, this is just absurd,” she said. “The scars and wounds are still bleeding, and she thinks she can just use some garden hose to put out the hill fire. This is not acceptable.”

Lam, however, believes the protests are a threat to Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” policy with mainland China, positioning Hong Kong in a “highly…