Hong Kong leader’s apology fails to quell fury
Protesters reject chief executive’s pledge of humility as opposition to extradition law intensifies
CARRIE LAM, Hong Kong’s leader, was forced into a rare apology yesterday after hundreds of thousands of protesters dressed in black poured on to the streets demanding she scrap a controversial extradition law and resign.
The protesters, many of them carrying white flowers as a sign of mourning, came from a cross-section of society and organisers claimed that numbers were double the estimated one million who turned out last week.
Police estimated the numbers more conservatively at 380,000, yet it was an extraordinary show of people power and ended any hopes the embattled Ms Lam may have harboured of bringing a swift end to the political crisis that has engulfed Hong Kong for months.
Protesters were not appeased by her unexpected decision on Saturday to delay the divisive extradition law, which critics say would put foreigners and Hong Kong residents at risk of being swept into China’s opaque justice system and damage the city’s reputation as a safe financial hub.
Instead, the crowd chanted “Carrie Lam Step Down!” in unison as it snaked for some two miles between Victoria Park and the Legislative Council.
Last night, in a significant concession by the authorities, it was disclosed that Joshua Wong, the student leader who became the face of the 2014 prodemocracy Umbrella Movement, is to be released from prison tomorrow.
Yesterday was the second Sunday in a row that protesters had rallied in defiance of their leadership, whom they have accused of doing Beijing’s bidding. The mood was spirited and laced with anger at Ms Lam’s perceived weak, untrustworthy response and heavy-handed police tactics last Wednesday when protesters were repelled with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Ms Lam’s statement of apology and pledge to “adopt a most sincere and humble attitude” came six hours after the massive protests began, and they gained little public sympathy.
The Civil Human Rights Front, one of the main protest groups, immediately rejected the apology as a “total insult”. In a statement, it added: “Should the government refuse to respond, only more Hong Kongers will strike tomorrow; citizens will take to the streets, until their voices are heard.”
The strength of public opposition has left Ms Lam in an untenable position, Claudia Mo, an opposition politician in the Legislative Council, said.
“She has lost credibility among Hong Kong people. She has to step down,” she said. “I wish Carrie Lam would stop putting on this cocky and arrogant face and talk to Hong Kong people nicely and just scrap this bill completely.”
Its overturning was vital to retain Hong Kong’s freedom, she said, adding: “This could be our final fight.”
Many on the march shared this sentiment. Parents marching with small children in their arms said that voicing their protest outweighed the risk of more violence and overcrowded choke points.
“We want to show our children that it is our responsibility to protect Hong Kong. We don’t want Hong Kong to be China,” said Mr and Mrs Yu, a couple who had brought their son and daughter, aged five and seven, to the protest.
The crowd was awash with banners saying “Do Not Shoot, We Are Hongkonger” and “Stop Killing Us” in a reference to the violence of last week that shook the financial centre to its core.
The police remained low-key, standing by the side of the road without body armour or directing the crowds.
But many people were incensed at Ms Lam’s refusal to apologise for the authorities’ earlier use of force or to back down over her labelling of protesters as “rioters”.
“Carrie Lam didn’t show any sorrow for her wrongdoing. She should respond to the people’s wishes,” said Mei Yan, 29. Vicky Yip, 39, did not protest last Sunday but said she had rallied this weekend after seeing the government’s poor handling of the crisis.
“If we don’t rise up, then the government will push the law through against the will of the people,” she said.
As darkness fell hours after the rally began, the streets and walkways around the Legislative Council build
‘I wish Carrie Lam would stop putting on this cocky, arrogant face and just scrap this bill completely ... this could be our ultimate and final fight’
ing still teemed with throngs of people, cheering and waving their smartphones.
Thousands lined up to pay their respects near the Pacific Place mall where a young man fell to his death on Saturday after unfurling a protest banner on scaffolding.
The circumstances of his fall remain unclear but he was swiftly lauded as a martyr for the cause as people paused to lay a flower or write a note of condolence at the spontaneous shrine where he died. Grassroots protest groups were yet to lay out a clear path forward last night, but pressure on the government remains high.
“I think if we continue the pressure, we may not necessarily have an outcome tomorrow but there will be a serious of actions,” said Nathan Law, a student leader during the 2014 pro-democracy Umbrella movement.
“I do think that Carrie Lam will consider shelving the bill in order to protect her government and herself.”