Hong Kong protesters call for more mass demonstrations despite Carrie Lam suspending extradition bill

Thousands of protesters are expected to take to the streets of Hong Kong in another mass rally on Sunday despite a pledge by the city’s embattled Chief Executive Carrie Lam to suspend the controversial new extradition bill.

Ms Lam tried to strike a conciliatory tone on Saturday as she delayed the bill after a tumultuous week that saw the worst political violence since the UK handed the city over to China in 1997. Tens of thousands of demonstrators clashed with police who repelled them with tear gas and rubber bullets.

The escalation came three days after Ms Lam doubled down on the law despite a record-breaking rally last Sunday, which organisers say drew more than one million people to the streets.

Critics fear that the sweeping bill puts foreign and Chinese nationals, even those just transiting through Hong Kong, at risk of unfair treatment by China’s mistrusted and opaque justice system, and damages the city’s reputation as a safe global financial hub.

Ms Lam’s U-turn and pledge to listen to the public, was immediately rejected by protest leaders who demanded she fully scrap the bill, resign and apologise for hard-handed police tactics.

Demonstrators expressed a lack of trust in the chief executive, who they accuse of being in thrall to Beijing, with some angry that the concessions came only after protests had turned violent.

Jimmy Sham, from the main protest group the Civil Human Rights Front, compared her offer to a "knife" that had been plunged into the city.

"It's almost reached our heart. Now the government said they won't push it, but they also refuse to pull it out," he told reporters while announcing today’s rally.

Jason Ng, from the Progressive Lawyers Group, said that people remained incensed by Lam's refusal "to take responsibility for the excessive police force unleashed on protesters and for tearing society asunder."

"This is unlikely to mollify civil society and we are expecting another big turnout at the march tomorrow," he said.

Theresa May's resignation was even held up as a shining example that Ms Lam should follow. Apparently without irony, Leung kwok hung, a social activist leading the protests, said: Theresa May resigned for a lack of leadership. She can't provide a Brexit plan and divided Britain. So, Carrie Lam, listen to me, follow the step of Theresa May, be courageous, step down. Otherwise, you will be brought down by Hong Kong people."

Ms Lam’s position became more precarious after China began to distance itself from the bill despite initially calling it a sovereign issue that was necessary to prevent Hong Kong from becoming a haven for fugitives.

Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to London, on Thursday became the first senior Chinese official to publicly dismiss suggestions that Beijing had pushed for the expansion of Hong Kong’s extradition legislation.

The media had portrayed the story as Beijing instructing Hong Kong to do so, he told the BBC. “As a matter of fact, [the] Beijing central government gave no instruction, no order about making [the] amendment.”

On Friday, Michael Tien became Hong Kong’s first pro-Beijing legislator to call publicly for a delay, garnering support from other leading members of the Executive Council.

The Chinese media reported that Ms Lam then met Han Zheng, the Chinese Vice Premier, for talks on Friday evening in Shenzhen, which links Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland, followed by a cabinet meeting with her top officials.

China’s government, which recently faced widespread international criticism on the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, said on Saturday that it supported the decision to suspend the divisive bill.

“We support, respect and understand this decision,” said Geng Shuang, the foreign ministry spokesman, calling the move an attempt to “listen more widely to the views of the community and restore calm..as soon as possible.”

Ms Lam, who did not set a deadline for the reintroduction of the bill, defended her motivation for updating the extradition laws but appeared contrite over misjudging the public mood.

"I feel deep sorrow and regret that the deficiencies in our work and various other factors have stirred up substantial controversies and disputes in society following the relatively calm periods of the past two years," she said.

The unprecedented chaos in Hong Kong has served to unite multiple layers of Hong Kong society - from church and human rights groups to the top layers of the business community – against the bill.

Ray Lo, 19, a student in HK studying business, told The Sunday Telegraph said she would return to the streets today/SUN to join thousands of other calling for Ms Lam to resign and scrap the laws.

She cast suspicion over Ms Lam's motives for postponing the legislation, theorising that the Hong Kong leader was keen to nullify protests before a key visit by top ranking Chinese government officials for the anniversry of the British handover on July 1.

Tony Hui, 20, another university student, said he was concerned like many others that Sunday would be one of the last opportunity for Hong Kongers to protests, because if the law if pushe through open political dissent may become a thing of the past.

He added: "I have not heard of any political prisoners who have won against China's legal system."

Thousands of mothers dressed in black and holding carnations staged a vigil in Chater Garden, a public park on Friday evening on behalf of their children.

Meanwhile, reports emerged that Hong Kong’s tycoons had started to move their assets offshore, concerned that the law left them politically exposed.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed the decision to suspend the proposed law. "Well done HK Government for heeding concerns of the brave citizens who have stood up for their human rights," Hunt said on Twitter. "Safeguarding the rights and freedoms in the Sino-British Joint Declaration is the best future for HK and Britain stands behind this legally-binding agreement."