China 'supports' suspension of Hong Kong extradition bill

China's government said on Saturday it supported the decision of Hong Kong's leader to suspend an unpopular bill that would allow extraditions to China and which sparked a week of protests. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman called the decision announced hours earlier by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, an attempt to "listen more widely to the views of the community and restore calm to the community as soon as possible."

"We support, respect and understand this decision," ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement.