Critics Slam CE For Ruling Out Extradition Probe

Government critics are unhappy that the Chief Executive on Tuesday ruled out the setting up of an independent commission of inquiry into the clashes between police and demonstrators on June 12.

That's one of the key demands by protesters to the Carrie Lam administration amid a recent wave of anti-extradition rallies.

Democratic Party Chairman Wu Chi-wai said such a probe would look into the use of force by the police on that day.

He said the independent inquiry would also help to improve governance in future, saying it would look into "the fundamental political structures that have to be changed".

"It is the only way that the government can find legitimacy for their future proposals," he added.

A member of the Mothers Group that supports young protesters, Sealing Cheng, said what Lam communicated was a message that she did not want to surrender by saying the word "withdraw".

"To me, at least, it shows that she is very stubborn," she said.

Cheng described Lam's rejection of an independent inquiry to look into the protests – proposed by some critics including former Chief Justice Andrew Li – as "shocking".

"It is not just about the police action, it is also about the protesters and it will be a fair way to evaluate what happened and for people to move forward," she said.

Cheng told RTHK's Janice Wong that it could be seen as an attempt to protect anyone who might have done something inappropriate.