Concession won't stop protests: rally organisers

Pan-democratic lawmakers insist that all five of the protest movement's demands must be met before the demonstrations can stop. Photo: RTHK

The organiser of some of the biggest anti-extradition rallies held in Hong Kong over the past few months of unrest has vowed to continue staging protests until all five of the movement’s demands are met.



The statement from the Civil Human Rights Front came as the pro-democracy camp on Wednesday rejected Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s decision to formally withdraw the extradition bill as a ‘fake concession’ that won’t be accepted by the people.



Lam said in a pre-recorded video released on Wednesday afternoon that the bill will be formally withdrawn by Legco and an independent committee will be set up to look into the deep-seated problems at the root of the recent unrest, as part of the government’s efforts to stop the violence and start a dialogue.



But the Civil Human Rights Front noted that the formal withdrawal of the bill is just one of five core demands of the protest movement, and Lam is making a “serious political misjudgment” by assuming that that this would be enough to assuage public anger.



In a statement, the group said allegations about the abuse of power and use of violence by police against protesters must be addressed by a truly independent Commission of Inquiry, adding that top officials must pay the price for creating this ‘political storm.’



Pro-democracy legislators agreed that Lam’s move is ‘too little, too late.’



Democratic Party chairman, Wu Chi-wai, accused Lam of trying to create further division in society. He says he thinks the government is just trying to come up with an excuse to invoke sweeping emergency powers under a colonial-era law if Lam’s ‘fake’ concession is not accepted.



Labour Party lawmaker Fernando Cheung said the damage done by Lam to society is both unforgiveable and irreversible.



He said the controversy now is not only about the bill, but also alleged police brutality. Therefore, he said, an independent probe must be set up to investigate the matter.



Legislator Michael Tien – one of the pro-government legislators and mainland advisors invited to Lam’s residence on Wednesday to hear her explanation of her latest decision – agreed that the CE is wrong to insist that an ongoing fact-finding study being conducted by the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) is adequate.



He said focusing only on the bill is now ignoring the crux of the problem.



“The main focus today is no longer on the bill itself”, Tien said. “In fact, most people can’t even remember what that bill was about. The whole focus has switched to the independent commission of inquiry looking into allegations of police excessive use of force, allegations about the protesters, where the funding is coming from and who is training them and what is it that they ultimately look for.”



He said a credible commission of inquiry led by a judge that can command the respect of both sides, can “settle the score once and for all… That is something that is absolutely needed.”



Hong Kong’s largest pro-government party, the DAB, however, backed Lam’s blueprint to reconciliation.



Its chairwoman, Starry Lee, said she’s hopeful that protesters would accept the concession.



“The government [has made] their decision to make one step forward and I hope and urge all stakeholders to take this opportunity and rethink what is good for Hong Kong society”, she said.



“If we continue to have all these violent attacks or if we continue to have all this road-blocking or disturbance at the Hong Kong International Airport, I don’t think it is good for the Hong Kong society”, Lee added.