Beijing is reportedly drawing up a plan to remove Hong Kong's beleaguered chief executive Carrie Lam after nearly five months of pro-democracy unrest.

The pro-Beijing leader has faced sustained criticism from protesters in the semi-autonomous city.

So far, the Chinese central government has given its support to her and the Hong Kong police, calling the demonstrators 'rioters' and condemning the violence.

Hong Kong's government today formally withdrew a controversial extradition bill that plunged the city into political turmoil.

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has faced sustained criticism from protesters in the Asian financial hub after introducing an extradition bill that would have allowed some criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China to stand trial. The bill was formally withdrawn today

Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong initially demanded the extradition bill be withdrawn, but later urged for wider democratic reforms including the right to choose their own leader. Pictured, a demonstrator hurls a tear gas canister fired by police on October 20

Beijing has so far given its support to Lam, calling the demonstrators 'rioters' and condemning the violence. Pictured, police fire tear gas at protesters during a demonstration on October 20

Hong Kong formally withdraws extradition bill that sparked unrest Hong Kong authorities have withdrawn the unpopular extradition bill that sparked the mass protests. 'I now formally announce the withdrawal of the bill,' secretary for security John Lee told the city's legislature on Wednesday. The bill was first proposed in February by city's government to establish a legal process to transfer fugitives to countries and regions it had not had extradition treaty with, including mainland China, Taiwan and Macau. The motion was called after a Hong Kong man last year allegedly killed his girlfriend during a trip to Taiwan and then fled back to Hong Kong. Hong Kong authorities were not able to charge the suspect with murder because the alleged incident took place in Taiwan. Nor could they formally extradite him to Taiwan. The suspect was sentenced to prison for 18 months in Hong Kong for money laundering. Advertisement

According to a report by Financial Times, which quoted unnamed figures briefed on the deliberations, Beijing is drawing up a plan to replace her with an interim chief executive.

However, sources told the newspaper that the plan would depend on whether or not the situation in the city would stabilise first. This way Beijing is not seen as giving in to violence.

Lam's office said it would not comment on speculation.

China's foreign ministry said today that the Financial Times report was a political rumour with ulterior motives.

Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the comments at a daily news briefing in Beijing.

Mass demonstrations began in the Asian financial hub in June and were initially sparked by an extradition bill that would have allowed some criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China to stand trial.

The bill was proposed in February by city's government to establish a legal process to transfer fugitives to countries and regions it had not had extradition treaty with, including mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.

But it was the amendment of mainland China that caused most widespread rage and opposition. Many residents in Hong Kong are unwilling to trust courts in the mainland, which are controlled by the Communist Party.

Lam on September 4 promised to formally withdraw the extradition bill, but the move failed to ease the city's chaos which had morphed into a wider democratic movement.

Hong Kong's government today formally withdrew the legislation.

'I now formally announce the withdrawal of the bill,' secretary for security John Lee told the city's legislature.

Beijing wants the unrest in Hong Kong to stabilise first before making a final call on the replacement for Lam, according to Financial Times citing sources close to the matter

Lam is facing significant headwinds from opposing politicians within the parliament. Pictured, a pro-democracy lawmaker is escorted by security from the city's Legislative Council as Lam takes questions from lawmakers regarding her policy address on October 17

Hong Kong has been battered by 20 weeks of protests and with no political solution in sight, clashes have intensified each month.

Earlier this month, Lam - who has refused to grant any major concessions to protesters - invoked a colonial-era emergency law to ban face masks, setting off a new wave of protests and vandalism that shut down much of the city's transport network.

One of the protest leaders, Jimmy Sham, was hospitalised after being attacked by unknown assailants wielding hammers last week.

If President Xi Jinping decides to go ahead with the plan to remove Lam, the report said her replacement would be installed by March.

Leading candidates being considered to replace her reportedly include Norman Chan, the former head of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and Henry Tang, who has also served as the territory's financial secretary and chief secretary for administration.

Tang said in a statement that he supported Lam, and would not comment on speculation.

Leading candidates who may replace Lam reportedly include Norman Chan (left), the former head of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority; and Henry Tang (right), who has also served as the territory's financial secretary and chief secretary for administration

Earlier this month, Lam invoked a colonial-era emergency law to ban face masks - a move that set off a new wave of protests and vandalism. A protester is seen opposing to the mask ban

Lam's ouster may not be enough to allay the concerns of Hong Kong's protesters.

'The plan definitely has come too late as Carrie Lam's net support... dropped to a disastrous level as early as four months ago,' said political analyst Dixon Sing.

'It is impossible to believe that Hong Kong people... would be happy and go back home once Carrie Lam has stepped down.'

How is Hong Kong's leader elected? Tung Chee-hwa is the first-ever Hong Kong chief executive appointed by Beijing before the city was returned to China by Britain in 1997. He is pictured with Chinese President Xi after receiving an award in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on September 29 Hong Kong has had four chief executives including current leader Carrie Lam since the city was returned by Britain to China in 1997. Currently, all candidates for the city's top leadership position must be approved by a pro-Beijing election committee. The winner of the election would also need to be green-lighted by Beijing before being announced. One of the demands from the city's current anti-government protesters is for them to be able to choose their own leader without Beijing's intervention. Hong Kong's current chief executive Carrie Lam was sworn in by Chinese President Xi Jinping on July 1, 2017 (pictured) The city's three leaders before Mrs Lam were Tung Chee-hwa (1997-2005), Donald Tsang Yam-kuen (2005-2012) and Leung Chun-ying (2012-2017). Mr Tung, the first-ever Hong Kong chief executive, is a former shipping tycoon born in Shanghai. He was appointed by Beijing before the 1997 handover. Mr Tsang took over the post when Mr Tung resigned in 2005 and then was re-appointed for a five-year full term. Leung Chun-ying won the election in 2012 after securing 689 votes in the 1,200-strong election committee. His low supporting rate sparked the city's first large-scale pro-democracy movement since its handover. The movement took place in 2014 and was known as the Umbrella Movement. Advertisement

A leaked audio recording emerged in September of Lam saying she would quit if she had a choice - although she later said she had not contemplated standing down.

Her resignation is not one of the protesters' five central demands, who are instead calling for measures including an investigation into police brutality, universal suffrage and the release of arrested protesters without charge.

'I don't think replacing Carrie Lam could solve the problem completely,' 18-year-old student Joyce Ho told AFP.

'If the government can respond to the five demands, I believe Hong Kongers would stop (the protests).'

Lam has faced a series of political difficulties since the city's legislature returned for a new session last week.

Carrie Lam had to apologise to the city's Muslim leaders after riot police sprayed a major mosque with blue-dye liquid with water cannons while trying to contain a demonstration. Pictured, Lam leaves after visiting the mosque in Kowloon to say sorry on on October 21

Earlier this month, Lam invoked a colonial-era emergency law to ban face masks - a move that set off a new wave of protests. Pictured, a protester wears a Guy Fawkes mask in defiant of the law during a pro-democracy march from Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong on October 20

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Hong Kong to oppose the mask ban

She was unable to give her State of the Union-style policy speech after pro-democracy lawmakers repeatedly interrupted her, forcing her to deliver the address via video.

'I don't think a change in chief executive will have much impact on the profound political crisis that Hong Kong is facing,' said Ben Bland, director of the Southeast Asia Project at the Lowy Institute, a policy think tank.

'The problem is less who leads Hong Kong and more that its leaders have no popular legitimacy because they are effectively chosen by Beijing.'