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Opinion | Carrie Lam has done all she can to meet the five demands. Protesters must know their limits
- Carrie Lam has gone further than her predecessors in responding to mass demonstrations and meeting protesters’ demands. Unfortunately, the chief executive does not have any power to grant a blanket amnesty or universal suffrage
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Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s announcement on September 4 to formally withdraw the rendition bill marks the Hong Kong government’s third failed attempt to implement a measure aimed at promoting national interests or a stronger connection with mainland China.
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In July 2003, then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa announced his decision to postpone the enactment of the national security bill after a putative half a million people took to the streets to voice their objections.
In September 2012, then chief executive Leung Chun-ying announced that schools would not be required to implement a new Moral and National Education plan after large numbers of protesters besieged the government headquarters for 10 days.
Far from being a suppressor of the masses, the government has now established a solid record of retreating in the face of mass demonstrations. Yet, in the present conflict, the past is not prologue. Lam had announced on June 15 she would delay the extradition bill, in the same way Tung and Leung did in 2003 and 2012, but the masses did not retreat and kept coming back with greater ferocity.
Although the protesters keep pressing Lam to agree to all their five demands, the government has truly gone as far as it can to respond to them. The withdrawal demand has been met, albeit belatedly.
Regarding the demand for an independent commission of inquiry, it has been never been entirely clear what exactly the commission is supposed to investigate, as different ideas for its purpose and ambit have been floated.
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