The Legislative Council today is expected to vote on a second motion of no confidence against Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her administration, as Hong Kong’s embattled leader faces widespread calls from the public to step down for her handling of a controversial extradition bill.
Lawmaker Dennis Kwok, who represents the legal sector, will bring the motion this morning, according to a LegCo release. The extradition bill — which would allow renditions to the mainland for the first time in years — prompted deep concerns within the legal community, with the city’s Bar Association, and even historically apolitical judges speaking out against the legislation.
Kwok said he blamed Lam and the members of her Executive Council for causing the massive anti-extradition protests that rocked the city over the last two weeks, telling RTHK today that they should all step down.
“This level of hypocrisy is astounding. You see Exco members like Regina Ip, Ronny Tong, Bernard Chan – previously all supporters of the bill – saying, ‘Oh, resistance is futile. There’s no point coming out to protest. Numbers are not a relevant consideration,'” he told the broadcaster. “All these people should resign.”
“Now they are trying to wash their hands,” he added. “Especially Regina Ip.”
Lam already survived one vote of no confidence over the extradition bill in the LegCo late last month, and her pro-Beijing allies currently control the legislature.
Lam shelved the controversial bill on Saturday following mass demonstrations, including one the previous Wednesday that saw police employ heavy-handed tactics to clear a crowd of tens of thousands of Hongkongers.
The police response, if anything, only intensified antipathy towards the bill, and more than a million people came out for a march on Sunday to make it known that a “pause” in the work on the legislation was not sufficient.
Lam offered a brief, pro forma apology for her handling of the bill yesterday, but refused to budge on any of the protesters’ key demands, including withdrawing the bill completely, dropping charges against those arrested in connection with the protests, and stepping down from her post.
The immediate response to the apology was dismissive, with many accusing Lam of failing to hear protesters’ demands.
“Her attitude is arrogant,” said Jimmy Sham of the Civil Human Rights Front, an umbrella organization of various groups participating in the protests.
Sham called the apology a “PR” exercise, and said he and his colleagues will convene today decide on their next steps.
Additional reporting by AFP.
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