In a sudden turn of events, Hong Kong government on Wednesday formally withdrew planned legislation that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, meeting one of five demands of pro-democracy protesters but unlikely to end months of often violent unrest.
“I now formally announce the withdrawal of the bill,” Secretary for Security John Lee told the city’s legislature.
The rallying cry of the protesters, who have trashed public buildings in the Chinese-ruled city and thrown petrol bombs at police, has been “five demands, not one less”, including universal suffrage.