Monday 29 July 2019 2:07 pm | Updated: Monday 29 July 2019 2:41 pm

Amcham urges Hong Kong to retire China extradition bill to revive business confidence

HONG KONG, CHINA - JULY 28: Protesters are enveloped by tear gas on street during a demonstration in the area of Sheung Wan on July 28, 2019 in Hong Kong, China. Pro-democracy protesters have continued weekly rallies on the streets of Hong Kong against a controversial extradition bill since June 9 as the city plunged into crisis after waves of demonstrations and several violent clashes. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam apologized for introducing the bill and recently declared it "dead", however protesters have continued to draw large crowds with demands for Lam's resignation and complete withdrawal the bill. (Photo by Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty Images)

The American Chamber of Commerce has issued a call for Hong Kong’s government to kill a controversial bill in order to quell protests it said are harming business confidence.

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has paused a vastly unpopular China extradition bill which led to widespread protests across the city.

However, the government has not withdrawn it completely despite eight consecutive weekends of increasingly violent demonstrations.

Amcham has now urged the government to pull the bill as international firms become increasingly pessimistic about the city’s business prospects.

“Amcham urges the government to stem any further damage and show clear leadership in meeting the expectations of Hong Kong people,” Amcham president Tara Joseph said today.

“The government needs to address the underlying causes of the protests and not simply to paper over the cracks of social instability with a short-term law-and-order fix,” she added.

Amcham’s members said they now perceive the region as “less safe” and “risky” for investments.

The lobby group called for Hong Kong to convene an “internationally credible” independent inquiry into the unrest to restore confidence in Hong Kong.

Citizens could have been extradited to face trial in China had the bill been passed.

Critics of the bill say it breaches the so-called one country, two systems model under which Hong Kong has been governed since the city returned under Chinese rule in 1997.

Xu Luying, spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said violent protests in Hong Kong wouldnt be tolerated. (Credit: Wang Zhao/Getty Images)

More violent clashes between protesters and police led to 49 arrests over the weekend as officers used tear gas and rubber bullets on demonstrators.

China today repeated its support for Lam amid the violence and called on Hong Kong’s citizens to oppose violence.

“A spokesperson for China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, told a news conference today that China condemns “horrendous incidents” that have caused “serious damage to the rule of law”.

Images credited to Getty