appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Su Xinqi

Five young women were arrested on Friday after storming the Hong Kong government’s headquarters to condemn a proposal to allow the transfer of fugitives from the city to mainland China.
Police also detained four men who had gathered outside the Admiralty complex.
The nine, aged 18 to 58, were arrested for forcible entry and released on bail in the evening.
While the city’s pro-democracy camp slammed officials for wielding unnecessary violence against the activists and called on people to join their march against the proposed extradition scheme at the end of the month, the government condemned the protesters, saying a security guard was injured.
On the release of the nine, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, a leader of protest organiser Demosisto, was critical of what he called “offensive” treatment of his fellow group members, saying a male security guard had sat on one of the women.

Wong, the party’s secretary general, said the protest had been peaceful and non-violent.
“All we wanted to do was to get into the lobby of government headquarters and give our petition letter to officials there,” Wong said. “We didn’t bring any banners … Why did we have to face such obstructions? We are extremely disappointed.”
The proposed legal amendment will allow the handover of fugitives – on a case-by-case basis – to jurisdictions with which the city has no formal transfer policy, including mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.
Businessman’s mainland jailing a ‘warning sign on extradition treaty’
The protesters demanded the government establish a separate agreement with Taiwan and exclude mainland China from the proposed transfer mechanism.
Wong also urged the Security Bureau to disclose the 4,500 public submissions it received during a 20-day consultation period that ended on March 4. Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu said 3,000 submissions had supported the government proposal.
The pro-democracy camp objected to the proposal, citing considerable differences in the legal systems between Hong Kong and mainland China and concerns over abuse of process across the border.
The business sector expressed worries local businessmen would inadvertently break the law in mainland China, where they said the tax system was too complicated.
The stand-off started soon after 11.15am, when the protesters ran down an escalator to the lobby.
Outside glass doors lobby, which security guards had closed to stop more demonstrators from squeezing in, another group of activists chanted slogans.
Demosisto said the activists were forced to block the lobby because officials had ignored the group’s two protests aimed at Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah and security chief Lee in the past week.
At about 12.30pm, dozens of police officers arrived and began making arrests.
The lobby faces the so-called Civic Square, a forecourt popular with protesters which was closed to the public in the run-up to the pro-democracy Occupy protests of 2014.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor reopened the space in 2017, but with restrictions, including on opening hours. In November 2018, the High Court declared restrictions on when protesters could use the venue unconstitutional.

The government condemned Friday’s protest and said one security guard was injured during the clashes and sent to hospital. 
“The government respects the right of citizens to express their opinion, but it also has to ensure its headquarters are able to operate effectively and smoothly in a safe environment,” a spokesman said in a statement.
“The headquarters are a working place for government personnel and are never open to public assemblies or demonstrations.”
In a joint statement, 19 pan-democratic lawmakers condemned the security guards for wielding unnecessary violence against the protesters and slammed officials for blatantly ignoring public opinion.
They urged Hongkongers to take part in a march on March 31 to oppose the government’s proposal.
Legislator Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, vice-chairman of the city’s largest pro-Beijing political party the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, urged the public to express their opinions in a calm and rational way.
Cheung also warned attempts to intrude on government headquarters or illegal protests there might prompt the government to consider closing the forecourt again.


Hong Kong actor Gregory Wong loses appeal against 2019 Legco storming conviction

Ex-Hong Kong lawmaker cleared of obstructing rivals in chaotic 2019 Legco meeting

Hong Kong lawmaker denies exaggerating rival’s role in chaotic meeting

Hong Kong court jails social worker for over 3½ years in retrial on rioting

Hong Kong extradition bill

Protesters arrested after storming Hong Kong government headquarters over proposal to extradite fugitives to mainland China

The protesters included three members of Demosisto and two Lingnan University students. Photo: Sam Tsang

Members from pro-democracy Demosisto surrounded by secureties at the CGO West-wing Lobby in Tamar. 15MAR19 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

Chairperson of DemosistÅ Ivan Lam was being removed from the CGO. Members from pro-democracy Demosisto surrounded by securities at the CGO West-wing Lobby in Tamar. 15MAR19 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

Security chief John Lee defends Hong Kong’s fugitive extradition proposal, citing positive public feedback

Hong Kong political party Demosisto protested to Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu, urging the government to retract the proposed amendment on two laws that will allow the city to hand ovre fugitives to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong lacks an extradition agreement. John Lee, Secretary for Security talks to the media members at Central and Western District Council. 13MAR19 SCMP/Sue Su

Guangdong province police hand over three robbery suspects to Hong Kong police in August 2018. The government has proposed amending its extradition law to allow reciprocal transfers with Macau, Taiwan and mainland China. Photo: Edward Wong

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Group of women attempted to launch a sit-in against a plan to extradite fugitives to mainland China
Police officers arrested them as well as their supporters


Group of five women launch sit-in in building’s lobby, before police arrive to arrest them and their supporters.


Hong Kong Basic Law

Protesters arrested after storming Hong Kong government headquarters over proposal to extradite fugitives to mainland China

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Group of women attempted to launch a sit-in against a plan to extradite fugitives to mainland China Police officers arrested them as well as their supporters

Group of women attempted to launch a sit-in against a plan to extradite fugitives to mainland China

Police officers arrested them as well as their supporters