홍콩, 시위확산에 '범죄인 인도 법안' 심의 연기
Thousands of protesters have blocked access to Hong Kong's government headquarters and legislature,... causing the delay of a debate on a controversial extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial.
Choi Si-young reports
Hong Kong's Legislative Council released a statement Wednesday saying that the debate on the controversial extradition bill would be "changed to a later time."
Earlier in the morning, the protesters mostly young people and students surrounded Hong Kong's legislature where the bill, which would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial, was due for a second round of debate.
Skirmishes between the protesters and police broke out, with police deploying rounds of tear gas. Nineteen demonstrators have been arrested so far.
The ongoing rallies are the largest Hong Kong has seen since it was handed back to China by the British in 1997.
The proposed bill has faced widespread criticism that it will undermine the independence of the semi-autonomous region's legal system and put Hong Kong citizens and foreign nationals at risk.
Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's Chief Executive has tried to make reassurances that the government is working on adding amendments to the bill to better safeguard human rights,... but many still fear if it's passed, it will make political activists more vulnerable to abduction by Beijing.
The measure is likely to pass in the local legislature, where pro-Beijing lawmakers hold 43 of the 70 seats.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News.
