You must be already aware by now about the ongoing protests happening in Hong Kong, an autonomous territory, and former British colony, in southeastern China. Here we have compiled a quick summary of what’s happening and the reasons behind the protests in Hong Kong.
What are 2019 Hong Kong protests about ?
The 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests are a series of demonstrations in Hong Kong and other cities around the world, demanding the withdrawal of the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 proposed by the Government of Hong Kong.
What is the extradition bill?
The proposed bill would amend two existing laws and allow Hong Kong to transfer suspects to countries that it currently lacks a formal extradition agreement with. Crucially, one of those jurisdictions would be mainland China.
What is the problem with anti-extradition bill?
It is feared that the bill would cause the city to open up to mainland Chinese law and that people from Hong Kong could become subject to a different legal system.
Read – 2019 Hong Kong Extradition Bill Protests Timeline
Why are people concerned?
Opponents worry that if the bill passes, anyone who irks Beijing could be targeted and potentially sent to the mainland, including dissidents.
Though the bill excludes political crimes, critics point out that China frequently charges dissidents, including religious leaders and human rights activists, with criminal offenses like “running an illegal business” and “picking quarrels.”
If the bill becomes law, foreign residents and even visitors transiting through the regional hub could also be detained and sent to the mainland, a move that will potentially spook investors and send tycoons packing.
If the law passes, critics warn it will end the city’s independent judiciary, and open the floodgates to China’s restrictive political system.
Who opposes it?
Opposition to the law spans socioeconomic and ideological divides, unifying even groups and organizations that do not typically participate in the city’s political sparring.
The bill is suspended, so why aren’t the protests over?
As long as the bill is suspended and not canceled, protesters fear the approval process could resume. If the bill were put to a vote, it would almost certainly pass as the legislature is controlled by pro-Beijing lawmakers.
The following video clip, which has been viewed over five million times, shows an ambulance passing through a sea of protesters as the crowd parts way for the medical emergency.
Hong Kong protesters let an ambulance go through the massive protest pic.twitter.com/IN61ZnJ9fZ
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) June 16, 2019
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a news conference to address recent protests against the extradition bill. Lam issued a formal apology but added that the controversial bill will not be scrapped two days after an estimated 2 million people marched in the city demanding she step down.
Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong speaks to the media outside the Legislative Council shortly after being released from prison. One of the people making the demands is 22-year-old Joshua Wong. He was released just a day after the mass protest. He had been in prison on charges related to the last major uprising, the 2014 umbrella movement, of which Wong was a leader.
Legal professionals stand outside the Central Government offices to protest against the government’s plans to approve extraditions to mainland China.
Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration demanding that Hong Kong’s leaders step down and withdraw the extradition bill, on June 16, 2019
Protesters hold banners and shout slogans as they fill the streets of Hong Kong on June 16, 2019.
Protesters march in Hong Kong on June 16, 2019
Latest update on Hong Kong Anti-extradition Protest:
Six student unions have said they will escalate protest actions if the government does not respond to their demands over the controversial extradition law by 5pm Thursday.
They have asked the authorities to axe the extradition bill, withdraw their characterisation of last Wednesday’s clashes as a “riot”, drop all charges against protesters and investigate cases of alleged police brutality.
The six groups include the student unions of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Science and Technology, Education University, City University, Academy for Performing Arts, Hang Seng University and the Federation of Students.
They said that, if the demands are not met, they will urge residents to rally outside government headquarters on Friday. They also said they would support other, “non-cooperative action” conducted by others.
What do the Hong Kong protesters want now? – 5 Demands
The Hong Kong protesters have five specific demands.
- The first one remains getting rid of the extradition bill for good.
- The second is that the government retract its use of the word “riot” to classify the protests. Demonstrators reject the term because they say it gives police cover to use heavy-handed tactics against peaceful protesters.
- The third demand is that the police release all protesters who have been arrested and drop any charges that have been brought against demonstrators.
- The fourth demand calls on the government to convene a serious, independent inquiry into the Hong Kong police and their tactics.
- The fifth one is about demanding universal suffrage for Legislative Council and Chief Executive elections. Currently, the Chief Executive is selected by a 1,200-member Election Committee, and 30 of the 70 Legislative Council seats are filled by limited electorates that represent different sectors of the economy, forming the majority of the so-called functional constituencies. Resignation of Carrie Lam.
Aug 23 update – The Hong Kong Way
On the evening of 23 August, an estimated 210,000 people participated in “The Hong Kong Way” campaign, to draw attention to the movement’s five demands.
At 9 pm, many covered their right eye and chanted “Corrupt cops, return the eye!” in reference to the first-aid worker who suffered a serious eye injury during a protest on 12 August. They joined hands to create a human chain 50 kilometers long, stretching across both sides of Hong Kong harbour and over the top of Lion Rock.
Hong Kong Way is lighting up Lion Rock, the iconic mountain symbolising the city’s spirit. (Pic: Telegram) pic.twitter.com/pCtK3Rp1v4
— Mary Hui (@maryhui) August 23, 2019
The action was inspired by a similar event known as the Baltic Way Chain of Freedom that occurred 30 years ago, on 23 August 1989. During the protests of 25 August, some anti-government protesters attacked Hong Kong police officers with bricks, gasoline bombs, as well as metal and wooden rods to which the police responded by using tear gas and deploying water cannon trucks. ( Source Wiki)
(Source HKFP)
September 2019 Updates
Hong Kong’s Dunkirk
(Photo from Facebook page Studio Incendo)
On 1 September, the target of protesters was the Hong Kong International Airport. Hundreds of protesters fled to the neighboring Tung Chung district, and with transport suspended by MTR, some protesters walked a 15 km route on the highway to the urban area from Lantau Island. The mass evacuation was dubbed by some media as “Hong Kong’s Dunkirk”
Photos began to surface online on Monday of Hong Kong activists being taken home by thousands of cars driven by volunteers after the MTR trains had been shut down and police deployed to try to block them from returning home from the airport.
On Sunday, Hong Kong protesters launched an “Airport Traffic Stress Test” overwhelming road and rail links to the airport, forcing many travelers to walk to the airport with their suitcases. That evening, police were dispatched in force and in an attempt to block their escape, MRT and bus lines were shut down.
However, about 5,000 private cars driven by volunteers arrived on the scene to help evacuate the protestors before they could be arrested, reported Liberty Times. The massive river of cars streaming out of the airport was described as the Hong Kong version of the “Dunkirk evacuation.” (Source taiwannews.com.tw)
Students Strike – Hong Kong Students Boycott Class on First Day of School
On 2 and 3 September, thousands of school and university students boycotted classes on the first two days of the new term to join the protests. Local media estimated that as many as 10,000 students from some 200 secondary and tertiary institutions were joining the class boycott, which was co-organized with two student groups.
First day of the new school year: students on strike form a human chain outside a secondary school in Shau Kei Wan (Pic: Telegram) pic.twitter.com/pZNImxUy6H
— Mary Hui (@maryhui) September 2, 2019
Withdrawal of the bill
Finally, on 4 September Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam announced she would withdraw the highly controversial extradition bill which had started the protests.
She also unveiled other measures that appeared to be designed to soothe unrest, but her opponents said it was too little, too late. Protests continued after the withdrawal of the bill.
Some are still calling for the resignation of Carrie Lam, whom they view as a puppet of Beijing.
Despite the withdrawal by Lam, there have been clashes between police and protesters every night in the past week. Many protesters have been heard chanting, “Five demands, not one less.”
March to US Consulate to call for help from Trump
Protesters hold a banner and wave US national flags as they march to the US Consulate in Hong Kong on September 8.
Protests calling on US President Donald Trump to intervene in the ongoing Hong Kong political standoff escalated rapidly Sunday, with marchers setting fire to a barricade outside a subway station entrance in the city’s business district.
In a letter which protesters planned to presented to consulate officials, the group calls for the passing of the proposed “Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act 2019” by the US Congress.
“We share the same US values of liberty and democracy,” 30-year-old banker David Wong said. “USA is a country of democracy. Donald Trump is elected by his people. We want this.”
The protests began peacefully but rapidly deteriorated into violence and vandalism over the afternoon, after police appeared to arrest a number of people in the busy Central subway station.
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