Tens of thousands of people rally against extradition bill. (Image via: BBC)

Rally in Hong Kong Erupts to Impeach City Leader

HONG KONG - About tens of thousands people expected to attend the second mass rally to press Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, to step down from her seat due to her action: indefinitely suspending extradition bill. Not only that, but also due to the cancellation of the second scrutiny of the bill which was supposed to be done this month. Lam said that the bill may not be passed this year.

The suspension which occurred on Saturday (15/6) followed what to be regarded as the most violent protest in Hong Kong history. On Wednesday (12/6), about 240,000 people ran onto the streets and surrounded Hong Kong government building to state their opinion against the suspension of the bill.

The rally turned worse as the police fired tear gas and rubber bullet to control the mass, and 72 people had to be rushed to the hospital.

With this suspension, there emerged questions among the people of Hong Kong, whether Carrie Lam was the best person to run the city. Since the suspension was one of the biggest turnouts since 1997’s British’s Handover of Hong Kong back to China.

The bill was meant to send criminal to go to mainland China to face trials, should they decide to escape to Hong Kong. Carrie Lam stated that the bill was meant to prevent Hong Kong to be safe haven for fugitives from mainland China, which actually was a sound bill to uphold justice in Hong Kong.

Nonetheless, the bill had to receive negative opinions, including from conservative Hong Kong political community and pro-democrats, who thought that the bill could only make Hong Kong vulnerable to Chinese authority; thus, staining the autonomous system of Hong Kong.

In other words, Hong Kong people fear that the Chinese will meddle with Hong Kong business, should the bill become law. The paranoia still exists when they accused Beijing of interfering much with Hong Kong government, and their involvement in the disappearance of 5 vocal Hong Kong authors whose works criticized Chinese government.

The demand of the rally is not only to prolong the suspension. Even further, they demand Lam to erase the bill permanently and Lam to leave the position. Should Lam only suspend the bill, the protest will keep running until the people get what they want.

It is true that Hong Kong is still a part of China, but it has different laws. For instance, Hong Kong does not have capital punishment for criminal. With the absence of extradition law, Hong Kong is a safe haven for Chinese fugitives.

Source: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-thousands-expected-to-protest-in-hong-kong-demanding-leader-to-step/