As Many as Two Million Protesters Hit Hong Kong Streets
- Organizers say record 2 million march; police estimate 340,000
- Leader Carrie Lam apologizes, but ignores resignation calls
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Hong Kong rose up in defiance a day after leader Carrie Lam suspended a contentious extradition bill, jamming the streets with hundreds of thousands of people and drawing a formal apology from the embattled chief executive.
Protesters wanted the complete withdrawal of the bill, which opponents say threatens the former British colony’s tenuous autonomy from Communist Party-ruled China. The largely peaceful crowds showed up in significantly greater numbers even after Lam indefinitely paused efforts to pass the legislation. A top government adviser said Monday there was now “no chance” debate on the bill would resume.