‘Fighting for our freedom’: protesters flood on to Hong Kong’s streets. Tens of thousands dressed in black march for full retraction of China extradition law.
Street protests in Hong Kong against the controversial bill on extradition to China continue for a week. After the protests involving hundreds of thousands, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced on Saturday that the law was suspended. However, the leaders of the protest went out on the street again demanding the cancellation of the bill completely.
Large crowds reunited at noon on Sunday, wearing black clothes and carrying white flowers. White flowers were left for a demonstrator who lost his life trying to hang a banner on Saturday. So far, 22 police officers and 60 demonstrators were injured. Authorities announced that 11 people were detained.
Speaking to the Reuters news agency, 16-year-old Catherine Cheung expressed suspicions about the suspension of the bill, “I think Lam plays the game until we calm down the bill,” he said.
What’s the problem?
Hong Kong is a former British colony managed under the principle of “two systems, one state”. This semi-autonomous region was re-dominated by China in 1997, but those living in Hong Kong, who have their own laws and civil liberties, lead different lives than Chinese lands.
The controversy caused by the bill has been caused by concerns over the privilege of judicial independence in Hong Kong. The bill envisions allowing authorities in China, Taiwan and Macau to apply for extradition for suspects charged with crimes such as murder and rape, with the final decision being given by courts that will specifically review each case.
In addition, the bill will not extradite those charged with political or religious crimes. However, a significant number of people in Hong Kong are concerned that people will be subjected to arbitrary detention, unfair trial and torture under China’s judicial system.
What causes anger against Carrie Lam?
Carrie Lam, the leader of the Hong Kong administration, is supported by the Beijing administration.
Lam called the weekday demonstrations “an organized rebellion”.
The demonstrators, who argued that the actions were peaceful, began to express Lam’s resignation.
Carrie Lam, who appeared before the cameras on Saturday after a few days break, said his government had recorded calls for “stop-thinking”.
However, Lam did not specify that the controversial bill would be removed from the table.
Chinese state media, the Hong Kongers on the demonstrations, “the opposition wing and their foreign allies came to the vote,” the opinion expressed.
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