Don't Be Fooled By Exco Ploy, Warn Pan-dems

Pro-democracy lawmakers have warned that just because executive councillors appear to be softening their stance on the government's extradition bill, it doesn't necessarily mean the powers that be will listen to their advice, and it could just be a trick to defuse the current political turmoil.

Exco convenor Bernard Chan told RTHK on Friday that in light of the massive protests in recent days, there is no way Legco can debate the bill now. Exco member Ronny Tong, meanwhile, said he isn't opposed to the idea of the bill being shelved.

But pro-democracy lawmakers said such comments could just be an attempt to placate the public.

Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung said the only move the people of Hong Kong will accept at this point is for Chief Executive Carrie Lam to abandon the extradition law changes completely.

"Until Carrie Lam comes forward and makes it clear to the world that she is going to withdraw the bill, we cannot take any comments seriously," he said.

Meanwhile, pro-democracy activists were stepping up preparations for fresh protests in the coming days, holding discussions with the police over the arrangements for another march on Tamar.

The Civil Human Rights Front is hoping for a repeat of the mega demonstration last Sunday, when around a million people marched to oppose the extradition bill.

But this Sunday, in addition to a re-run of the march from Victoria Park, the group has asked the police to allow protesters to also march from Edinburgh Place in Central and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park in Sai Ying Pun – with all three processions converging at the government's headquarters.

The front says holding three simultaneous marches will allow protesters to reach the final rallying point quicker, after some participants of last Sunday's march spent hours just waiting to get out of Victoria Park.

Bonnie Leung, the vice-convenor of the front, said there was no reason for the police to reject their application and if they did so, it would be a "serious violation of people's human rights".

"What we are planning to do is a very peaceful assembly just like ... the one on extradition laws on the 9th of June. As the world as seen, we have been totally peaceful so the police have no excuse, no reason at all, not to give us permission," Leung said.

It is not clear when Legco president Andrew Leung will next attempt to hold discussions on the extradition bill, with three meetings this week called off. But the council's website indicated that no meetings were scheduled for either this Monday or Tuesday.