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China 'draws up plan to replace Carrie Lam' as Hong Kong protests drag on
Source: The Guardian
China 'draws up plan to replace Carrie Lam' as Hong Kong protests drag on
Speculation over Hong Kong chief executive’s future comes as man whose murder case prompted the extradition bill is released from prison
Lily Kuo in Beijing
Wed 23 Oct 2019 08.25 BST
First published on Wed 23 Oct 2019 00.35 BST
China reportedly has plans to replace Hong Kong’s embattled leader, Carrie Lam, with an “interim” chief executive once protests have settled down.
The news emerged as the murder suspect whose case prompted the original extradition bill that in turn sparked the protest movement in June was released from prison on Wednesday.
The extradition bill was also formally withdrawn, a key demand of protesters, by the Hong Kong government on Wednesday. The bill, which would have allowed suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial in courts controlled by the Communist party, prompted months of protests before Lam agreed last month to withdraw it.
Citing people briefed on the discussions on Lam, the Financial Times reported that Beijing plans to replace her next year. The chief executive has become a lightning rod for sweeping protests over fears Beijing is tightening its grip and limiting the freedoms enjoyed under the “one country, two systems” principle enshrined when Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997.
-snip-
Speculation over Hong Kong chief executive’s future comes as man whose murder case prompted the extradition bill is released from prison
Lily Kuo in Beijing
Wed 23 Oct 2019 08.25 BST
First published on Wed 23 Oct 2019 00.35 BST
China reportedly has plans to replace Hong Kong’s embattled leader, Carrie Lam, with an “interim” chief executive once protests have settled down.
The news emerged as the murder suspect whose case prompted the original extradition bill that in turn sparked the protest movement in June was released from prison on Wednesday.
The extradition bill was also formally withdrawn, a key demand of protesters, by the Hong Kong government on Wednesday. The bill, which would have allowed suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial in courts controlled by the Communist party, prompted months of protests before Lam agreed last month to withdraw it.
Citing people briefed on the discussions on Lam, the Financial Times reported that Beijing plans to replace her next year. The chief executive has become a lightning rod for sweeping protests over fears Beijing is tightening its grip and limiting the freedoms enjoyed under the “one country, two systems” principle enshrined when Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/23/china-draws-up-plan-to-replace-carrie-lam-as-hong-kong-protests-drag-on-report