Hong Kong extradition bill suspended...

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the suspension of the controversial proposed extradition bill, which has generated massive opposition in the streets.

Hong Kong: The unprecedented uproar that followed the controversial Hong Kong Extradition Bill led widespread protests in and around the Hong Kong and other cities since March 31. After months of political and social upheavels the Hong Kong Chief executive Carrie Lam on Saturday declared the suspension of the extradition bill saying that the “bill has caused a lot of division in society."

In the past few days, demonstrators gathered in the central Hong Kong waving placards and chanting 'Hong Kong, never giver up'.

Some Facts:

What is the extradition bill?

The 2019 Hong Kong Extradition Bill states that the suspects accused of criminal wrongdoings such as murder and rape will be sent to China for trial.

Outline of the bill:

• The bill is slated for the suspects who are charged with rape and murder cases.
• Offences touching the business ground won't face extradition charges.
• Suspects with political and religious charges will be excluded from the extradition list

Govt's take on the law?

• The Hong Kong government thought that it would allow them to put a check on the crime rate and help them to secure their perimeters.
• The main purpose of the law is to save Hong Kong from becoming a safe haven for criminals.

Reasons for protests:

Hong Kong Extradition Bill has caused unprecedented fracas in the region and allowed people to raise their voice against the bill.

• The bill will officially allow the Chinese authorities to take over the Hong Kong administration.
• It would dissolve the rights and legal protections, which were guaranteed under the city's handover from the British colonial rule to Chinese sovereignty in 1977.
• The extent of the opposition is such that even the business groups in Hong Kong who generally take a neutral stand on political issues have also spoken against the bill.

Protest Background:

• The first protest started on March 31 from Luard Road to Civic Square.
• The second protest took place on April 28 in which 130,000 joined the march. They marched from Causeway Bay to Legislative Council in Admiralty.
• The third protest took place on June 6 carried out by lawyers considered to be the largest in Hong Kong since 1977. They expressed reservations over the fairness of the Chinese judicial system.
• The fourth protest took place on June 9. On that day 1.03 million protesters showed up on the street to protest against the bill.
• The fifth protest took place on June 12 but it did not have any kind of effect on the government.
• The sixth protest was mothers' sit-in protest that took place on June 14. During this 6,000 mothers staged a protest for three hours.

Origin of the extradition bill:

The proposal of the Hong Kong Extradition Bill came to force after a Hong Kong man murdered his pregnant girlfriend during their vacation in Taiwan last year. After the crime the man returned to Hong Kong.

After this incident, Taiwan authorities asked the Hong Kong authorities to extradite the man. But Hong Kong government refused to do so on the basis of lack of extradition agreement with Taiwan.