Did Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters overplay their hand?

ONE year on from the heady days when thousands of Hongkongers took to the streets to protest against an extradition law proposed by the Hong Kong government, there is now a palpable sense of buyer's remorse among the island's populace.

The proposed legislation was meant to close a loophole that had prevented a Hongkonger from facing justice in Taiwan over the killing of his girlfriend, owing to a lack of extradition treaty between the two jurisdictions. But the law was broadly unpopular with Hongkongers who feared it would be used by China to clamp down on dissent against the mainland and erode the extensive autonomy the city has under the "one country, two systems" formula.

The pro-democracy movement was able to mobilise huge marches on the streets that quickly convinced Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam to withdraw the controversial bill. She also issued an apology for mishandling the issue.