The Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s lawmaking body, has passed a resolution urging the government of Hong Kong to withdraw its divisive extradition Bill.
The resolution, which was passed on Mon (18 Jun) after negotiations during an extraordinary meeting, also called upon the city’s government to “listen to its people with humility and minimize conflict”.
“Hong Kong people have voiced their concerns through massive protests. The Legislative Yuan caucuses do not agree with the Hong Kong government’s forceful way of handling the mass movement.
“In accordance with the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights, anti-crime cooperation should not be codified in a bill that erodes human rights.
“Hong Kong people have the right to seek their own democracy and freedom. We will always support those universal values and oppose any violation of human rights and freedom,” according to the Legislative Yuan’s resolution.
The lawmaking body also urged the Taiwanese government to offer assistance to the people of Hong Kong.
“To support Hong Kong’s democracy, rule-based system, freedom and democracy amid mass action that turned bloody, the government should provide necessary assistance to Hong Kong residents whose safety is at risk for political reasons, pursuant to Article 18 and related clauses of the Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong and Macao Affairs.”
Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan was quoted by Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) as saying in his address to the people of Hong Kong: “You are not alone; Taiwan is with you.”
Previously on Sun (16 Jun), an estimated 10,000 people – including Taiwanese youth, Hong Kongers residing in Taiwan, and members of civil society – had attended a rally outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei.
Taiwan’s CNA reported that organisers of the protest had branded Mrs Lam’s decision to suspend any legislative debate on the extradition Bill the day prior as simply a “delaying tactic”.
A Hong Kong citizen who requested to be identified only as “Cynthia” told CNA that she had attended the rally because she believes that “suspension does not equal withdrawal.”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) East Asia Bureau chief Cédric Alviani reportedly told the protestors that “Beijing would no longer have to resort to abduction” should the Bill be tabled, approved and subsequently passed.
“They would simply have the Hong Kong authorities hand over whomever they wish to silence,” CNA reported Alviani as saying. “Suspending the bill is not enough, it must be rejected once and for all.”
