Hong Kong: Carrie Lam publicly apologises for extradition bill

Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing leader, Carrie Lam, on Tuesday publicly apologised for having proposed controversial legislation that would allow criminal suspects to mainland China for persecution.
“I offer my most sincere apology to all people of Hong Kong,” The New York Times quoted Lam as saying during a press conference at the government headquarters here.
She added, “I’ve still got much to learn and do in better balancing diverse interests, in listening more to all walks of life and in taking our society forward.” However, the leader, who had already announced the extradition bill’s indefinite suspension, did not concede to protesters’ demands that it be withdrawn entirely. Instead, she said that as long as there were public disputes over its contents, legislative work on it would not be resumed.
Without further giving in to the demands of protestors who sought for her resignation, Lam noted that she would not resign as Hong Kong’s chief executive, but acknowledged that “as for my governance in the future, it will be difficult.” She also tried to express concern for injured protesters without undercutting the Hong Kong police, whose use of force has added to public anger.