What began as public anger at a controversial extradition bill, which critics said could effectively remove the legal firewall between Hong Kong and mainland China, morphed rapidly into expressions of hatred towards Lam not only as author of the legislation but also as an arrogant leader insistent on bulldozing its passage.
The combative Lam doubled down even after an estimated 1 million Hongkongers marched on June 9 to protest against the bill, their presence on the streets scored by chants demanding her resignation. The massive turnout was double the number that took part in a historic 2003 procession that forced the government to shelve a controversial national security bill.
