Hong Kong formally scraps extradition bill that sparked protests

Wednesday, 23 October 2019 at 11:12

Hong Kong has officially withdrawn the controversial extradition bill that sparked months of violent protests in the city.

"I now formally announce the withdrawal of the bill," Secretary for Security John Lee told the city's legislature on Wednesday.

It comes on the same day that a murder suspect at the heart of the extradition case controversy was released from prison.

Chan Tong-kai, who is wanted for killing his partner in Taiwan, was released after serving a separate sentence for money laundering.

It comes a month after Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced plans to withdraw the bill formally.

More from International news

Congo Ebola outbreak kills more than 5,000

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 5,000, government data showed on Friday, as authorities had yet to find a way to control the country's deadliest Ebola epidemic on record.
Residents of Russian-controlled Ukrainian town arrive in Belarus

Four planes carrying residents evacuated from the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky landed in Belarus on Saturday, the Belarusian Belta state news agency and a senior Ukrainian official said.
France braces for fresh unrest, government vows tough response

France deployed a 70,000-strong police presence to contain a widely expected bout of fresh unrest on Saturday in the latest nationwide protests driven by anger over living costs, public services and President Emmanuel Macron's government.
Saudi Arabia intercepts and destroys drone in Mecca region

Saudi Arabia's air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone from the Houthis targeting the Mecca region on Friday morning.

UAE fuel prices to drop in November
Motorists in the UAE will be paying less at the pump in November, the UAE Fuel Price Committee confirmed on Saturday.
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan names fintech company Ziina for Dubai-it award
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has presented the Dubai-it Award for companies in the business category to Ziina for making "accepting payments by phone simpler for thousands of businesses".
Sheikha Latifa meets with Emirati scholarship students in Korea
Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, has met with a group of Emirati students enrolled at leading South Korean universities and academic institutions during her official visit to South Korea.