Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam formally withdraws controversial extradition bill

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam

announced the withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill that has plunged the city into its worst political crisis in decades, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Hong Kong pushes bill allowing extraditions to China

The bill, which would have allowed extraditions to mainland China where courts are controlled by the Communist Party , triggered months of unrest and posed the gravest challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.

Lam made the announcement in an internal meeting with pro-establishment lawmakers and Hong Kong delegates of China’s National People’s Congress. She is expected to make a public announcement later on Wednesday.

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