Carrie Lam's Apology Not Enough, Protesters Say

Protesters in Admiralty responded to Carrie Lam's apology on Sunday night with jeers and boos, saying they will carry on with one of the largest protests Hong Kong has ever seen until the Chief Executive completely withdraws the extradition bill and steps down.

“Her apology is not a solution to the present situation,” one protester told RTHK. “What we voice, or want, is not to postpone, but to withdraw the extradition bill. And the most important thing is that she needs to step down.”

Another demonstrator said she is planning to stay however long it takes for the government to withdraw the bill, and she’s taken a day off on Monday to take part on a labour strike against the bill.

“No, I’m not going to work, I would like to just spend all the time, or all the effort that I could do, to make the government know this is not a joke; this is not a kid playing around asking for some candy,” she said.

Many people reacting on social media also said they would not accept the written apology, with some saying if Lam is sincere, she should have done it in person, and bow in contrition to the people of Hong Kong.

Jimmy Sham, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, which organised Sunday's mass protest, said he still doesn’t think Lam has really heard the people’s views.

He repeated their five key demands, that the government should withdraw the bill completely, instead of an indefinite suspension; have Carrie Lam resign; free everyone who's been arrested during the past week's mass protests against the proposed legislation; refrain from making any further arrests; and for the government to retract their characterisation of the violent clashes on Wednesday as a 'riot' — an offence that carries with it a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

Democratic Party lawmaker James To agreed that the apology-by-statement from Lam is too little, too late.

He said she could have done that before the two massive processions this week. He insisted Lam should withdraw the bill and tender her resignation to Beijing.

“Her government cannot be an effective government, and will have much, much, much difficulties to carry on. So, Carrie Lam, please step down,” he said.

“Please step down, please offer your apology to the central people’s government, and to respect the political [accountability] system. I believe the central people’s government will accept her resignation,” he said.

The government issued a statement on Sunday evening after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets, saying Lam is sorry for "causing disappointment and grief among the people."

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