Live Blog
Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam Speaks After Massive Protest
Carrie Lam on June 10.
Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg
Monday June 10, 2019
Welcome to TOPLive. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam is scheduled to meet the press at 11 a.m. local time after hundreds of thousands of people turned out on Sunday in a protest rally to oppose the government's proposed extradition law to China. We'll bring you the latest news and analysis of the press briefing.
Photographer: Paul Yeung/Bloomberg
Today's media briefing is Carrie Lam's first appearance after the massive protest on Sunday against the proposed extradition law. Organizers of the protest rally put the turnout at 1.03 million.
The extradition bill has been criticized by Western governments and international business organizations as a threat to the “one country, two systems” framework credited with maintaining Hong Kong’s status as a global financial center.
Photographer: Paul Yeung/Bloomberg
A statement Sunday from the Hong Kong government on the protest didn't signal a pushback in moving forward with the extradition proposal. While praising protesters for a "generally peaceful and orderly" demonstration, the government defended the bill.
So what do we know about this morning? We have had a statement simply saying that Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam will meet the press at 11am local time. The statement gave no explanation of what the subject of the briefing would be.
A reminder: Lam's briefing is due in 10 minutes from now.
The turnout estimates for Sunday's demonstration vary widely between the numbers given by the police and the organizers. While the organizers put the turnout at more than 1 million -- which would effectively mean one in seven Hong Kong residents joined in -- police estimated 240,000 participants at the peak. Historically in Hong Kong and elsewhere, demonstration numbers do vary widely, yet this may play into Carrie Lam's thinking.
The stock markets have opened in Hong Kong at the start of the working week -- the benchmark Hang Seng index is up over 2% so far this morning.
I just arrived at the press area and dozens of reporters are already here. There are about 20 cameras set up.
Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg
Bloomberg terminal users can follow Lam's briefing HERE on {LIVE<GO>}.
One key question is whether Lam, Hong Kong's chief executive, will delay consideration of the extradition proposal given the public outcry. Key hearings on the measure are slated for Wednesday -- the timing of Sunday's demonstration wasn't an accident -- and Lam wants to pass the measure by the end of the current legislative session in July.
A reminder at what's at stake here and why so many Hong Kongers joined Sunday's demonstration. The extradition proposal would make it easier to transfer fugitives from Hong Kong to Taiwan, Macau, mainland China or any other jurisdiction that doesn't already have an agreement with Hong Kong. It has greatly concerned rights groups, lawyers and business organizations including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which worry that it could be a threat to the "one country, two systems" framework that has maintained Hong Kong's status as an international financial center.
Hong Kong's government has retreated on legislation in the face of protests before: In 2003 it scrapped a controversial national security proposal after half a million people hit the streets. But in recent years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has shown no signs of bending as Beijing tightens its grip over Hong Kong.
Willy Lam, adjunct professor at the Center for China Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said:
“The Hong Kong people have spoken clearly. It's almost impossible to overrule the vision of the higher authority. They have already made several adjustments to pacify the business community, mostly. They might make one or two more adjustments, which of course will make the revision look more ridiculous.”
Microphones are now set up at the venue, where I am. Reporters are now waiting for Lam to arrive.
Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg
Hong Kong's government has insisted that the legislation wouldn't curtail freedom of speech or push away businesses, and has called for a ``calm and rational discussion.'' It'll be interesting if Lam doubles down on that approach, even as Sunday's protest showed most people aren't satisfied with her reassurances.
The Hong Kong government has already somewhat scaled back the extradition proposal. Bowing to pressure from the business and legal communities, last week it raised the proposed extradition limit to crimes that carry sentences of seven years or more in prison. Initially, crimes with only three years were the threshold. This may come up in Lam's press conference -- that the government has made some changes to the legislation.
No sign of Carrie Lam yet at the briefing, she may walk in any time.
Lots of microphones on the podium for the news conference.
Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg
As we wait for Lam's briefing, let's have a look at the editorial from Chinese state media Global Times. The paper said the effort by Hong Kong government to amend extradition bill is a normal legislation activity. However, it was hyped up by the opposition and international forces which support them.
The paper said Washington is very active in intervening in Hong Kong affairs recently. As some U.S. politicians have threatened to review Hong Kong's economic and trade status, it is likely that U.S. is using Hong Kong as a bargaining chip amid U.S.-China trade spat, or even damaging the city's prosperity and stability to help curb China's development.
Political leaders including Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen have voiced their support for the protests:
In Sunday's demonstration, Lam was a clear target. There were regular chants of "Carrie Lam resign" and posters critical of her as well.
Lam's here and has started her address. Terminal users please follow the briefing on {LIVE <GO>}
Carrie Lam became Hong Kong's leader in 2017 after winning 67% of votes from an electoral college of 1,194 businessmen, professionals and politicians. The runner up was more popular among the general public, but that doesn't matter much in the city's managed democracy.
Lam says she is proud of Hong Kong's rule of law and says the government respect the people's freedom of speech.
Lam says:
"I believe most of the protesters yesterday loved Hong Kong, and came out for the sake of the next generation."
No sign yet that Carrie Lam is backing down.
Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg
Lam reiterates that she wants to ensure Hong Kong isn't a haven for fugitives.
So far, Carrie Lam is staying close to what the Hong Kong government said yesterday about respecting the protests yet not backing down.
She is taking pains not to dismiss the protests, which is appropriate politically given the huge turnout.
Lam said the government will continue to explain the need for extradition law. She says:
"From what we saw in the protest rally yesterday, there are clearly still concerns among the people of Hong Kong over the proposed bill."
Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg
Lam says:
"We will ensure the legal protection on human rights"
She's making the case that the government will ensure legal protection of human rights -- which has been a major concern for the legal community about the bill, that critics of Beijing could be punished with extradition.
So far, she doesn't seem to be signaling a delay in consideration of the extradition proposal or major changes to it.
Carrie Lam is speaking in English now.
Lam says her government will try to more clearly explain the law to the public. The problem is that Hong Kong people haven't bought official explanations. They've seen book sellers abducted and independence advocates disqualified from politics, and fear that Hong Kong's government won't be able to resist demands from Beijing.
She says that the demonstration should help "refute" that rights and freedoms are being abridged in Hong Kong, saying they are "robust" as ever.
She mentions the clashes between the Hong Kong police and protesters last night.
Lam says that Hong Kong is taking "serious action" against the breaches of the law.
Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg
She says that the government's communication work on the bill has to continue -- "even after enactment of the bill." That doesn't sound like she's backing down.
She mentions the "additional safeguards" that were introduced in the legislation.