Hong Kong Protestors. Photo Doc. ABC

Hundred Thousand of People Protest the New Law by China towards Hong Kong

Another protest to the mainland China is conducted by Hong Kong citizens, and this time is even bigger than the last protest in 2014. For about 130,000 people protested over a proposed law change that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China, Taiwan, and Macau for trial. Some fear that the bill would put the city’s core freedoms at risk as it would leave anyone on Hong Kong soil vulnerable at being controlled by the Chinese authorities for political reasons or any other offenses that would undermine the “one country, two systems” rule.

As reported by Reuters, the protest was also being targeted to the pro-Beijing leader of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam. Thousands of protestors chanting “step down, Carrie Lam” with the believe that the leader has “betrayed” Hong Kong. Although the officials have stated that no-one at risk of being sentenced to death, being tortured, or facing political charge when being extradited to the mainland China, Taiwan, or Macau, the citizens are unconvinced due to the infamous poor human rights record and opaque legal system of Beijing.

The “one country, two systems “rule between China and Hong Kong has allowed Hong Kong to maintain high level  of autonomy including having its own legislative council, education, currency, border control and stock market. Foreign and defense affairs are the only things that are not included in the privilege. Responding to this bill, the last British governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten agreed that it is “an assault on Hong Kong’s values, stability and security”. Members of the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China have also carried out their opinion towards the bill as a negative impact towards the relationship between the US and Hong Kong.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/08/asia/hong-kong-extradition-bill-protest-intl/index.html