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A Note on Hong Kong Protests

From Hong Kong: By Prof. Dr. Stephan Ortman, Political Science Assistant Professor at City University, Hong Kong

Chinese

Extradition
Law flames

protests across
Hong Kong

In June 2019, Hong Similarly, the current proposed Lam. Clashes between protesters and autonomy but to enhance it through
Kong experienced changes to the extradition law are the police occurred during the week. real democratic elections.
While the government under Chief
mass protests that the viewed as an attempt to undermine Executive Carrie Lam eventually Eventually, the government also did
city had never the territory‟s rule of law as decided to postpone the law, she did not make any concessions such as
experienced before. criminals could be sent to mainland not withdraw it as protesters had changes to its very limited electoral
The marches were China, which is infamous for its demanded. This angered many who reform proposal, which was
larger than the July opaque legal system and frequent then demanded the resignation of eventually voted down in the
television confessions. As such, it is Lam.
st
1 protest in 2003 viewed as a threat to the “One partially democratically elected
which had drawn Country, Two Systems” principle So far, all she has done is to legislature. Unfortunately, for Hong
500,000 people. Back which has guaranteed Hong Kong a “sincerely” apologize. These Kongers, the Chinese government
has viewed the protests with great
then, protesters had high degree of autonomy for at least events contrast with 2003 when the concern and has sought to increase
railed against 50 years since the handover from protest successfully led to the its control after each protest. While
British colonial to Chinese control in
national security shelving of the law, while the chief this obviously is not having the
In June 2019, Hong Kong Similarly, the current proposed changes to the extradition legislation under 1997. executive Tung Chee Hwa desired effect, it seems possible that
experienced mass protests that the law are viewed as an attempt to undermine the territory‟s Article 23 of the The fear that Hong Kong could eventually resigned, although not further restrictions on the local
city had never experienced before. rule of law as criminals could be sent to mainland China, Basic Law, the lose its special status prematurely officially as a response to the system are imminent. The future of
The marches were larger than the which is infamous for its opaque legal system and led to mass mobilization as more protests. The current events have Hong Kong is becoming increasingly
st
July 1 protest in 2003 which had frequent television confessions. As such, it is viewed as a territory’s mini- than a million people protested on also been compared with the uncertain and any further erosion of
drawn 500,000 people. Back then, threat to the “One Country, Two Systems” principle constitution, which two consecutive Sundays in June previously so-called Umbrella

protesters had railed against national which has guaranteed Hong Kong a high degree of many saw as an and clashes between protesters and Movement of 2014 in which autonomy will have devastating
security legislation under Article 23 autonomy for at least 50 years since the handover from assault on the highly the police occurred during the week. activists had demanded real economic consequences as many

of the Basic Law, the territory‟s mini- British colonial to Chinese control in 1997. The fear that cherished freedom of While the government under Chief universal suffrage. However, already are considering emigrating to
constitution, which many saw as an Hong Kong could lose its special status prematurely led Executive Carrie Lam eventually although a large segment of the other places such as Taiwan,
to mass mobilization as more than a million people
assault on the highly cherished protested on two consecutive Sundays in June and speech and assembly. decided to postpone the law, she did population took part in the 79-day Singapore, or North America.
freedom of speech and assembly. clashes between protesters and the police occurred during not withdraw it as protesters had street occupation, its official goal
the week. While the government under Chief Executive demanded. This angered many who then was not simply the
Carrie Lam eventually decided to postpone the law, she then demanded the resignation of preservation of Hong Kong‟s
did not withdraw it as protesters had demanded. This
angered many who then demanded the resignation of
Lam. So far, all she has done is to “sincerely” apologize.
These events contrast with 2003 when the protest
successfully led to the shelving of the law, Stephan Ortman
Assistant Professor, Department of Asian and
International Studies, City University of Hong
Kong Hong Kong
Protests Flag

.ELITE. ISSUE 9, JULY 2019 5