Hong Kong protests: Tens of thousands again turn out
14 July 2019
Tens of thousands have again taken to the streets of Hong Kong as weeks of anti-government unrest show no sign of stopping. There were violent clashes between police and a small number of demonstrators in Sha Tin. The protests were sparked by a proposed extradition bill which would allow people to be sent to China for trial. But they now reflect broader demands for democratic reform and concerns Hong Kong's freedoms are being eroded. Hong Kong, a former British colony, is part of China but run under a "one country, two systems" arrangement that guarantees it a level of autonomy. It has its own judiciary, and a separate legal system, compared to mainland China. The Financial Times cited sources as saying Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, had offered to resign several times over the the protests but China refused to let her. China insists she must "stay to clean up the mess she created", one of those quoted said. Some of those in Sha Tin repeated calls for Ms Lam to stand down while others carried banners demanding independence for the region. "I'm not tired of the protests yet, we need to fight for our rights," one 25-year-old protester told the South China Morning Post. Police pepper-sprayed a number of demonstrators who had broken away from the official route. A stand-off developed when masked protesters built barricades. Another rally saw journalists march against what they say is the police mistreatment of reporters. It follows a march on Saturday against Hong Kong goods being smuggled into mainland China. Demonstrators turned out in Sheung Shui, a town near the border with China popular with mainland tourists. Traders use Sheung Shui to buy goods and sell them at inflated prices over the border, but locals have complained the influx of visitors has driven up prices, put pressure on services and changed the character of the area. The protests on Saturday were mostly peaceful, but police later charged protesters with batons, shields and pepper spray and were met with metal poles and other projectiles. Critics of the extradition bill said it would undermine Hong Kong's judicial independence and could be used to target those who speak out against the Chinese government. After huge protests, Carrie Lam said the bill was "dead" but stopped short of formally withdrawing it. This was not enough for protesters, who have vowed to keep up the pressure on the government and revived other demands, such as for universal suffrage. Hong Kong's leader, the chief executive, is currently elected by a 1,200-member election committee - a mostly pro-Beijing body chosen by just 6% of eligible voters. The BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonell says that given that Beijing is likely to oppose genuine elections it is difficult to see an end to the crisis.
Some of those in Sha Tin repeated calls for Ms Lam to stand down while others carried banners demanding independence for the region. "I'm not tired of the protests yet, we need to fight for our rights," one 25-year-old protester told the South China Morning Post. Police pepper-sprayed a number of demonstrators who had broken away from the official route. A stand-off developed when masked protesters built barricades. Another rally saw journalists march against what they say is the police mistreatment of reporters. It follows a march on Saturday against Hong Kong goods being smuggled into mainland China. Demonstrators turned out in Sheung Shui, a town near the border with China popular with mainland tourists. Traders use Sheung Shui to buy goods and sell them at inflated prices over the border, but locals have complained the influx of visitors has driven up prices, put pressure on services and changed the character of the area. The protests on Saturday were mostly peaceful, but police later charged protesters with batons, shields and pepper spray and were met with metal poles and other projectiles.
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What happened at the protests?
Critics of the extradition bill said it would undermine Hong Kong's judicial independence and could be used to target those who speak out against the Chinese government. After huge protests, Carrie Lam said the bill was "dead" but stopped short of formally withdrawing it. This was not enough for protesters, who have vowed to keep up the pressure on the government and revived other demands, such as for universal suffrage. Hong Kong's leader, the chief executive, is currently elected by a 1,200-member election committee - a mostly pro-Beijing body chosen by just 6% of eligible voters. The BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonell says that given that Beijing is likely to oppose genuine elections it is difficult to see an end to the crisis.
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What do the protesters want?