Pressure mounts on Hong Kong leader over extradition plan

Hong Kong's embattled leader faced mounting pressure on Friday to abandon a deeply unpopular plan to allow extraditions to China as key allies urged a rethink following unprecedented political unrest.

The international finance hub was rocked by the worst political violence since its 1997 handover to China on Wednesday as tens of thousands of protesters were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

Opposition to the extradition bill has united an unusually wide cross section of Hong Kong against the proposal and sparked huge rallies.

The city's pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam has so far refused to meet protester demands to withdraw or scrap the bill.

But on Friday Lam found herself facing calls from within her own political camp to reverse course and tamp down spiralling public anger.

Prominent pro-Beijing lawmaker Michael Tien openly called on Lam to postpone the bill.

"She would gain points instead of losing points," he told reporters.

"Nothing is ever too late. New situations arise that would provide the basis for any leader to change their position. There's nothing wrong with that."
"We can't trust the pro-establishment lawmakers," said pro-democracy lawmaker Alvin Leung. "We need Carrie Lam's response on whether she will withdraw the bill."