Protest in Hong Kong written by 10318 Lee Sunho and 20115 Oh Hyunju

 

Hong Kong was the place that the Qing Dynasty handed over to the British Empire after the First Opium War in 1842. Since then, Hong Kong has become a city with dense financial centers and trade ports. It was ruled by Britain until 1997.

Since it was returned to China, Hong Kong has gone through many changes. Many business and cultural figures operating in Hong Kong moved to the Americas or Europe. In particular, artistic circles, Hong Kong's film industry, which has been popular all over the world, has disappeared in a moment.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Even though they are Chinese, Hong Kongers are confused and strongly disagree with mainland China’s socialism system since they are used to having certain freedom that most mainland Chinese people don’t have.

Hong Kong’s protest against China has been getting bigger and bigger over time. Nobody ever expected that it could get this huge due to the extradition bill.

Extradition bill was created due to a a Taiwan murder case in which Chan Tong Kai (a Hong Konger) killed his pregnant girlfriend and fled to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong follows the territorial principle which does not punish criminals who committed crimes outside of the country. As a result, the Hong Kong court decided he was only guilty of stealing and the prevention of money laundering. He was sentenced to only 29 months in prison which made people angry.

Protest started by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) has been getting longer and longer. Protesters and government officials are tired even after the extradition bill was withdrawn in September.

 

Why are protesters still protesting?

Someone who does not know Hong Kong very well might ask “People like Chan Tong-kai who murdered his girlfriend should be punished severely. Why do people not agree with this extradition bill?”

Protesters disagree with this bill for two reasons. First, many people in China, who were anti-communist, fled to Hong Kong to live their lives the way they felt was right. But China kept watch on these migrants everywhere and every hour.

Hong Kongers fear that the law could be used as a tool for political reasons. If the extradition bill had passed, China might legitimately extradite Hong Kongers who do not follow mainland China rules. If China doesn’t like their behavior or words, China can also extradite them. Therefore, there is a possibility that something bad can happen to them since there is no protection.

Second, Hong Kongers don’t want China to interfere or engage in its policies. China and Britain made a 50-year-deal which was to return Hong Kong back to China in 1997. But the stipulation was that Hong Kongers should enjoy their many of the rights that they had as a British colony.

But Hong Kongers are insisting that their rights has been taken away far faster. They don’t want any interferences like extradition bill or something until 2047.

 

Hong Kong Government Reaction

 

Hong Kong government wanted to extradite him to Taiwan and to receive punishment for the murdering his girlfriend. However, Taiwan also does not follow the extradition bill, so it became of no use.

On March 3^rd, about a million citizens led a demonstration peacefully. Hong Kong police, however, excessively suppressed the demonstration. Since the Hong Kong government considered the protest as a riot, so they began to arrest and punish participants. During this process, the government used weapons such as tear gas. As a result, hundreds of people have been injured since June 12^th.

  

On September 4^th, Carrie Lam who is a Chief of Hong Kong Government, said in her speech, that she would officially withdraw the “criminal extradition act” and promise to “listen to citizens’ opinion.”

As a result, The Hong Kong government has withdrawn its extradition bill after seeing 88 days of protests by citizens.

 

What Do Protesters Want?

 

Protesters also wanted the Hong Kong government to behave in three ways for the revision of the Criminal Extradition Act. First, government cannot apply this to political and religious criminals. Second, they must use it only for criminals who commit a serious crime or needs to be sentenced for more than seven years. Lastly final acceptance must be decided by the Hong Kong court.