People power has won a famous victory in Hong Kong

The decision to suspend the extradition law is an important marker of the limits of Beijing’s authoritarianism

As last week showed, the better guarantors of the rights of the people of Hong Kong are the people themselves (Getty)

The suspension of the draft law to allow extradition from Hong Kong to the rest of China is a triumph for democracy and human rights. It is a significant victory for people power, and a welcome check on the reach of Chinese totalitarianism.

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, said the “explanation and communication” of the bill had not been adequate, and announced that her government would “pause and think”.

The decision to de-escalate the confrontation with the people of Hong Kong, who had taken to the streets in unprecedented numbers, was presumably taken in Beijing. A spokesperson for the Chinese central government said it “expresses its support, respect and understanding” for the decision.