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Dozens of people protested against Hong Kong's extradition bill outside the White House in Washington on Sunday. Photo: SCMP / Nectar Gan

From Vancouver to New York to Brisbane, rallies around world express solidarity with Hong Kong’s mass protest against extradition agreement

  • Rallies held in 29 cities, including Berlin, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver, as well as Tokyo, Sydney and Taipei
  • Supporters also flood social media with messages of support

A wave of solidarity swept from Berlin to Brisbane on Sunday as demonstrators gathered around the world to support the mass protest in Hong Kong against the government’s extradition bill.

At least 29 rallies were held in 12 countries with protesters taking to the streets in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Washington, Toronto and Vancouver, as well as Tokyo, Sydney and Taipei.

The demonstrators expressed support for Hong Kong, where hundreds of thousands of people marched in opposition to a proposed amendment that would allow the transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions with which the city has no extradition treaty, notably mainland China.

In Vancouver, at one of the biggest overseas protests, hundreds of demonstrators filled the street outside the Chinese consulate-general with yellow umbrellas and chants against the extradition law.

The crowd was mostly made up of Hong Kong immigrants, young and old. Some carried posters calling for the release of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who are being held by China on spying charges, in apparent retaliation for the arrest in Vancouver of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

Friends Natalie Tam, 17, and Chinnie Liu, 16, both moved to Vancouver last year to complete their education. “Hong Kong is my home and I love it, so why would I not protest,” said Liu. “If we don’t stand up, who will?”

Tam said she had phoned her parents, still in Hong Kong, and was surprised to hear that her father had joined the massive march there. It was his first political protest since the 1989 Hong Kong march that followed the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Protesters against the Hong Kong-China extradition law are reflected in the nameplate of the Chinese consulate general in Vancouver on Sunday. Photo: SCMP / Ian Young

“I was so impressed. So if even my dad is protesting, why shouldn’t I,” said Tam.

Iris Lim, 59, who has lived in Vancouver for 30 years, said she was protesting in solidarity with her former home city. “I want to show I care. Hong Kong people will have less and less chance to use their voice,” she said. “But as someone overseas I have the right to say something and show support for the people of Hong Kong.”

In Australia, protests were held in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane – all cities with large Chinese populations. In Melbourne, hundreds of people from all walks of life gathered outside the State Library Victoria, chanting slogans and singing Do you hear the people sing?

Protesters, police fight pitched battles as ‘million-strong’ rally takes ugly turn

“I’m here today because I fear that I might be extradited to mainland China for crimes that I didn’t commit,” said Henry Lee, a Hongkonger now living in Melbourne.

“The government has been rushing to have the bill passed. I felt that I had to come out today.”

Lee, a 35-year-old digital designer who moved to Melbourne about 10 years ago, said he was moved that people from around the world had come out against the bill.

About 3,000 people attended a rally in Sydney, according to local police.

Violent clashes mar protest after ‘more than a million’ march against extradition bill

In Canberra, Simon Henderson, 34, a former senior policy adviser for Justice Centre Hong Kong, gathered with about 70 others to protest against the bill.

Henderson said: “What struck me was the diversity of people concerned about the extradition proposals. One thing that unites all is a sense of distrust towards the Chinese government, and a fear that if these proposals become law they will further undermine Hong Kong's autonomy.”

In Washington, more than 60 people gathered outside the White House to protest against the extradition bill.

As it happened: How protest march against extradition bill turned ugly

“Support Hong Kong! No extradition to China! Carrie Lam step down!” the demonstrators chanted as they held up yellow umbrellas and home-made placards.

Most protesters - students, young professionals, families with small children and seniors - had come to join the protest from outside Washington, such as Maryland and Virginia.

Louisa Chan, a 35-year-old Hongkonger who moved to the US five years ago, said she still read Hong Kong news everyday and was disheartened by the turn of events there.

Protesters in Sydney march at the New South Wales Library on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

“The political environment there is getting worse by the day in recent years. The promise of 'one country, two systems' is falling apart, and the rule of law is the last and the most important pillar of Hong Kong’s autonomy,” said Chan, who brought her 4-year-old son to the protest with her husband.

Why did Hongkongers join million-strong protest march? It's in their DNA

“The extradition law poses a risk to everyone who lives in Hong Kong, including tourists. It’s like hanging a knife above Hong Kong people’s neck,” she said.

A rally at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan on Sunday drew more than 100 people. Photo: CNA

The Hong Kong immigrants were joined by Americans, Taiwanese and mainland Chinese, including the prominent blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng, who said he came to join Hongkongers to protest against the Chinese Communist Party’s increasingly authoritarian hand.

In Berlin, meanwhile, a protest outside the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office drew nearly 200 people. For two hours, demonstrators took turns sharing their views about developments in Hong Kong.

Protesters gathered outside the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin on Sunday. Photo: SCMP/ STR/ Cherie Chan

“I came to the protest because it’s a call for justice. It’s important to raise awareness around the world about what’s happening in Hong Kong,” said Jacky, a Hongkonger who has lived in Berlin for three years.

“I would really like the whole world to put pressure on the Hong Kong or Chinese government to stop Hong Kong from becoming just another Chinese city.”

Demonstrators in Tokyo hold placards denouncing the extradition agreement on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Jacky, who only gave his first name, also took part in the pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong in 2014.

Dozens of exchange students and expatriates from Hong Kong rallied outside the National Museum in Prague, in the Czech Republic, waving placards and chanting “Support Hong Kong, oppose extradition to China!” according to a live stream on Facebook.

Sea of white washes through city as masses heed call on fugitive bill

Protesters from across the globe also flooded social media with messages of support. A Hongkonger living in Amsterdam said on Facebook: “Absent again [at the march]. Thank you to all those who represent.”

Cherie Chan was reporting from Berlin, Nectar Gan from Washington and Ian Young from Vancouver

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Show of solidarity with rallies held around the world
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