AFP, HONG KONGHuge crowds yesterday thronged Hong Kong as anger swelled over a plan to allow extradition to mainland China, a proposal that has sparked the biggest public backlash against the territory’s pro-Beijing leadership in years. “This bill will not just affect Hong Kong’s reputation as an international finance center, but also our judicial system. Hong Kong’s leaders, who are not popularly elected, have said the law is needed to plug loopholes and stop the territory being a bolthole for Chinese fugitives. The proposed law has been fast-tracked through the Hong Kong Legislative Council, which is dominated by pro-Beijing members and would on Wednesday receive its second reading. The backlash creates a headache for Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (林鄭月娥), who has staked her political reputation on the bill passing.

Source: Taipei Times June 09, 2019 16:05 UTC