China on Saturday said it supports the Hong Kong leader's decision to suspend a controversial bill that would allow extraditions to China, following massive protests.
About an hour after Hong Kong Chief Executive of Carrie Lam announced the suspension of the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019, following sustained protests from lakhs of people an official statement here expressed China's backing for Lam and her decision to back down.
"We note that Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government decided to suspend work on the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in statement.
China also expressed Beijing's backing for the beleaguered Lam who faced heavy criticism from local people, specially students, for attempting to push the bill disregarding massive protests.
"The Chinese Central Government expresses its support, respect and understanding for the SAR government's decision and will continue its staunch support for Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the SAR government in governing Hong Kong in accordance with law and upholding the SAR's prosperity and stability with people from all sectors," Geng said.
He said China continued to respect and faithfully implementing the "one country, two systems" policy under which Hong Kong was return from British rule to China in 1997.
The former British colony is being governed a high degree of autonomy and the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents have been fully guaranteed according to law, he said.