Hong Kong's top official doubled down on a contentious plan to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland a day after hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding it be scrapped and she resign in the biggest demonstration to shake the former British colony in years.
took to the streets in one of the biggest demonstrations to shake the former British colony in years.
Flanked by the secretaries for justice and security on Monday, Lam stressed safeguards built into the legislation to prevent human rights abuses and said she will continue in her job. She also lauded those who participated in the march and said it shows that Hong Kong's "rights and freedoms are as robust as ever."
It came as concerns have increased that Hong Kong's rights and freedoms are eroding under what is perceived as increased efforts by the central government in Beijing to increase its influence. "The credibility of Hong Kong is now on the line," Tara Joseph, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said in an email to CNBC after the demonstration. She called on the government to drop the proposal and "preserve Hong Kong as a leading international business center."
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-Ngor, Hong Kong's new Chief Executive and her new cabinet are sworn in by Chinese President Xi Jinping during an inauguration ceremony in Hong KongThe throngs of people that took to the streets were overwhelmingly peaceful though some scuffles with police were seen and arrests made. Some activists launched a brief sit-in outside the Legislative Council, the local assembly where the proposals are being debated.
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