Letters | Hong Kong’s protests are rooted in fear of the city’s freedoms eroding under China. Is Carrie Lam truly listening?

Carrie Lam, why now after months of increasing massive and sometimes violent protests do you claim to be listening to Hongkongers? Apparently, you were not listening when millions took to the streets to protest against the extradition bill. It took you over 10 weeks to announce the withdrawal of the bill from the Legislative Council.

You say Hongkongers continue to have the right to free speech and information and an independent judiciary – yes, for now. But Hongkongers are terrified of Chinese rule. In mainland China, the judiciary is subservient to the Communist Party, the right to free speech is restricted and information tightly controlled. People who fall afoul of the government can be sent to “black jails” where they are held incommunicado for extended periods and sometimes tortured.

China is implementing a social credit system that gives citizens and corporations a score based on criteria determined by the government, a way to punish or reward people for behaviours the government wants to control. In August 2018, a United Nations panel estimated that over 1 million ethnic Uygurs were being held in concentration camps, which Beijing claims are re-education centres for miscreants.

In Hong Kong, the police are arresting people for vague offences and beating many up in the process. While protesters have resorted to violence, they are literally using their fists to repel a repressive system bent on removing their rights and freedoms by stacking the government and legislature with pro-Beijing loyalists.