The protests in Hong Kong, which started last summer, have shown no signs of abating, taking place even on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. So why are Hong Kongers angry with their government? What are their demands? And why do protestors say “Today’s Hong Kong is Tomorrow’s Taiwan”?
In June 2019, over a million people hit the streets of Hong Kong to protest a proposed Chinese extradition law, which was withdrawn four months later. That figure – an estimate of organizers – represents about one-seventh of the city’s population of 7.5 million.
The protests began in the afternoon on Sunday, June 9th with a 3km march to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council building. The crowd did not disperse until the early hours of Monday morning.
If passed, the bill would allow authorities to extradite suspects from Hong Kong to China. Hong Kong officials say they would have final say over who gets extradited.
Critics say the law opens the door for Chinese authorities to poach political and business adversaries. They say that it would essentially cancel Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status. Also, the law would not only apply to Hong Kong residents. Anyone who passes through Hong Kong would be subject to extradition to China, without the guarantee of a fair trial.
Protesters say the law is not in the interest of the city’s people. They say that local leaders are merely following the wishes of Beijing.
"Hong Kong government and the Chinese government are not on an equal footing. So if the Chinese government makes a promise to Hong Kong and says 'oh we would not extradite political dissidents, we would ensure fair trial,' and if the Hong Kong government extradites its people, its citizens back to China and China breaches its promise, there's nothing the Hong Kong government can do," said Chan Sze-chai, one of the protestors.
Over the past few months, the protests have turned increasingly violent with protestors throwing petrol bombs and police firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Protestors say they will not back down unless their demands are met. The five demands include: an independent inquiry into police brutality, amnesty for arrested protestors, no classification of protesters as rioters, universal suffrage, and Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s resignation.
In Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen has reiterated that the government will stand firm in its support of Hong Kongers’ pursuit of freedom and democracy. She said Taiwan is deeply concerned about the situation in the former British colony, but will not intervene in the political unrest there.