LettersWhy violent Hong Kong protests don’t stand to reason: look in the Basic Law

What are the costs and benefits of the current protests in Hong Kong?

The costs are clear: billions of dollars in shop closures, unemployment, reduced visitor numbers, starved charities.

But what are the upsides? What are the benefits of the protests? Surely there are some?

So far, I can think of only one. The extradition bill was withdrawn shortly after the first protests. Conclusion: (a) the protests were effective and (b) the government was responsive.

But protests continued. Have they gained any more upside?

Well, now it’s “five demands” – not just one.