Hong Kong's activists insist it's too little, too late. Nevertheless, the announced withdrawal of the extradition bill that sparked unprecedented mass protests in the former British colony throws up a dilemma for adversaries of Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her backers in Beijing. They say legislation that would have effectively legalised the sending of political prisoners to the mainland has now been overshadowed.
In particular, they want more guarantees of democracy, are demanding answers over police brutality and want an independent inquiry into the authority's heavy-handed response to demonstrations. But the leaderless movement faces the risk of protest fatigue of the kind that made the 2014 Umbrella Movement peter out and lose support among Hong Kong citizens.
Then there is China itself. It has expressed growing impatience over the protests and events in the former British colony, which will no doubt figure high on the agenda next month when an oversight committee of the Communist Party convenes for the first time in more than a year and a half. What is Xi Jinping's next move? How will he act?
Produced by Andrew HILLIAR, Juliette LAURAIN and Ingri BERGO.
