Hong Kong protests: China extradition bill officially killed as Beijing ‘considers replacing Carrie Lam’

Hong Kong authorities have formally withdrawn the unpopular extradition bill that sparked a months-long protest movement.

The semi-autonomous province’s leader, Carrie Lam, had initially proposed the bill in February to resolve a case involving a man wanted for murder in Taiwan who could not be sent to face charges because there was no extradition agreement.

However the proposals sparked widespread fears that residents would be at risk of being sent to mainland China to face the state’s Communist Party-controlled courts – prompting protests that have engulfed the territory between citizens and the police.

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Now, after assurances from Ms Lam in September that the bill would be scrapped in the next meeting of the state’s legislative council, it has been formally withdrawn by secretary for security John Lee.

In July, with the city crippled by a summer of disruption, Ms Lam said the government’s work on the legislation had been a “total failure” and declared the controversial bill “dead” – stopping short of a full withdrawal.

Shape Created with Sketch. Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Show all 20 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures 1/20 Pro-democracy protesters turn away from a fire lit outside the Causeway Bay Mass Rapid Transit (MTR) station in Hong Kong on October 4 Getty 2/20 Pro-democracy protesters hold umbrellas as police fire tear gas at them ouside Tai Koo MTR station in Hong Kong on October 3 Getty 3/20 Hong Kong police fire a water cannon from the central government office at protesters during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 AFP/Getty 4/20 Protesters burn a Chinese national flag during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 AFP/Getty 5/20 Protesters remove signs celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China during a mass rally in Hong Kong on October 1 AFP/Getty 6/20 Cardboard boxes set alight by protesters burn in the streets of Hong Kong during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 EPA 7/20 An anti-China banner has been placed in a barricade during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 EPA 8/20 A pro-democracy protester runs away after police fire a tear gas canister in Hong Kong's Wong Tai Sin district on October 4 Reuters 9/20 Protesters run after police fire tear gas during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 AFP/Getty 10/20 Pro-democracy protester take cover after police fire a tear gas canister in Hong Kong's Wong Tai Sin district on October 4 Reuters 11/20 Reuters 12/20 The rally comes after months of protests on the streets of Hong Kong which began in oppposition to a proposed extradition bill EPA 13/20 The extradition bill would have allowed the government to extradite people to China if they were facing certain criminal charges AFP/Getty 14/20 Opposition to the bill stems from the fear that the Chinese government would abuse this power for political or commercial reasons EPA 15/20 Protesters soon came to demand greater freedom and universal suffrage under the One Country, Two Systems principle AFP/Getty 16/20 Protesters are wearing black to symbolise opposition to China as they take to the streets in a "day of grief" while the Chinese state celebrates the 70th anniversary of its communist founding AFP/Getty 17/20 A protester charges forward holding umbrellas as a mass rally breaks out in violence in Hong Kong on October 1 AFP/Getty 18/20 A protester pours water on a tear gas canister fired by police during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 Reuters 19/20 A protester carries a vandalised Chinese flag through Hong Kong during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 EPA 20/20 Protesters carry a banner that denounces the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 EPA 1/20 Pro-democracy protesters turn away from a fire lit outside the Causeway Bay Mass Rapid Transit (MTR) station in Hong Kong on October 4 Getty 2/20 Pro-democracy protesters hold umbrellas as police fire tear gas at them ouside Tai Koo MTR station in Hong Kong on October 3 Getty 3/20 Hong Kong police fire a water cannon from the central government office at protesters during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 AFP/Getty 4/20 Protesters burn a Chinese national flag during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 AFP/Getty 5/20 Protesters remove signs celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China during a mass rally in Hong Kong on October 1 AFP/Getty 6/20 Cardboard boxes set alight by protesters burn in the streets of Hong Kong during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 EPA 7/20 An anti-China banner has been placed in a barricade during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 EPA 8/20 A pro-democracy protester runs away after police fire a tear gas canister in Hong Kong's Wong Tai Sin district on October 4 Reuters 9/20 Protesters run after police fire tear gas during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 AFP/Getty 10/20 Pro-democracy protester take cover after police fire a tear gas canister in Hong Kong's Wong Tai Sin district on October 4 Reuters 11/20 Reuters 12/20 The rally comes after months of protests on the streets of Hong Kong which began in oppposition to a proposed extradition bill EPA 13/20 The extradition bill would have allowed the government to extradite people to China if they were facing certain criminal charges AFP/Getty 14/20 Opposition to the bill stems from the fear that the Chinese government would abuse this power for political or commercial reasons EPA 15/20 Protesters soon came to demand greater freedom and universal suffrage under the One Country, Two Systems principle AFP/Getty 16/20 Protesters are wearing black to symbolise opposition to China as they take to the streets in a "day of grief" while the Chinese state celebrates the 70th anniversary of its communist founding AFP/Getty 17/20 A protester charges forward holding umbrellas as a mass rally breaks out in violence in Hong Kong on October 1 AFP/Getty 18/20 A protester pours water on a tear gas canister fired by police during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 Reuters 19/20 A protester carries a vandalised Chinese flag through Hong Kong during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 EPA 20/20 Protesters carry a banner that denounces the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 EPA

But despite having now met what was the central demand of protestors when their demonstrations began in March, it is unlikely the move will deter further conflict.

The goals of the movement have shifted to securing independence from China and the resignation of Ms Lam. Action is frequently accompanied by the chant “five demands, not one less”, in reference to the possible removal of the bill.

“There aren’t any big differences between suspension and withdrawal of the extradition bill ... It’s too little, too late,” said protester Connie, 27, hours before the withdrawal. “There are still other demands the government needs to meet, especially the problem of police brutality.”

The move comes amid reports China will seek to replace Ms Lam with an interim chief executive for the province in an attempt to quell protests.

Citing people briefed on the deliberations, the Financial Times reported that, if given the blessing of Beijing’s Xi Jinping, a successor to Ms Lam could be installed in March to see out the remainder of her term, which is due to end in 2022.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying has since said the plans were a political rumour with ulterior motives.

On Wednesday night, hundreds of pro-democracy protesters formed a human chain at the British Consulate in Hong Kong to rally support for their cause from the city’s former colonial ruler.

The event was organised in support of a debate on Thursday in Britain's Parliament on whether to offer British citizenship to Hong Kongers in light of the unrest that has gripped the city since early June.