Following weeks of protests and violence, Hong Kong's Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, made a bold declaration over the fugitive bill. CGTN's Zhu Dan has the latest.
ZHU DAN HONG KONG "The fugitive bill is 'dead'. That was the declaration on Tuesday from Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
CARRIE LAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HONG KONG SAR "I almost immediately put a stop to the amendment exercise. But there are still lingering doubts about the government's sincerity or worries whether the government will restart the process in the Legislative Council. So I reiterate here, there is no such plan. The bill is dead."
Speaking before heading into Tuesday's meeting of the Executive Council, Carrie Lam said the government's work on the bill had simply not been good enough and that her team did not have a good grasp of the public's views on it. Carrie Lam said she was saddened by the political crisis the bill saga has caused.
CARRIE LAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HONG KONG SAR "Please give us an opportunity, the time, the room, for us to take Hong Kong out of the current impasse and try to improve the current situation."
Asked by reporters whether she would resign as chief executive over the affair, Carrie Lam replied that she would not and said she intends to continue to serve the people.
She said she was ready to hold an open dialogue with the students union over the fugitive bill controversy.
CARRIE LAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HONG KONG SAR "I now readily welcome and agree to this open dialogue with our student representatives and we will follow up."
Government critics are unhappy that Lam ruled out setting up an independent commission of inquiry into the clashes between police and demonstrators on June 12th. That's one of the key demands by protesters to Lam's administration. Opponents are threatening to launch more protests in the coming weekend. Zhu Dan, CGTN, HK.