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Tony Cheung

Hong Kong was gripped by chaos on Wednesday, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, as tens of thousands surrounded the city’s administrative centre to block lawmakers from debating the government’s controversial extradition bill.
Here are key things you need to know about Hong Kong and this bill.




Is Hong Kong part of China?
Hong Kong is a part of China with its own legal system, currency and civil liberties that do not exist in mainland China.
Before its handover to China in 1997, Hong Kong was a British colony for more than 150 years.
Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Beijing guaranteed Hong Kong “a high degree of autonomy”, to last until 2047.
What is the bill about?
The Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 was proposed by the Hong Kong government in February to allow the transfer of fugitives to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong lacks an extradition deal, including the mainland, Taiwan and Macau.
Officials said the bill had to be passed as soon as possible so a murder suspect could be sent to Taiwan. Chan Tong-kai, 20, who is wanted on the self-ruled island for his girlfriend’s murder, was jailed for 29 months in April on related money-laundering charges. But he could be released as soon as October and be at liberty to flee the city.

Why is it causing so much division in Hong Kong?
Opposition to the extradition agreement has been snowballing ever since it was announced in February. Domestic and international concerns have been expressed about the possibility of politically motivated persecution and unfair trials on the mainland.
People have taken to the streets in huge numbers to protest the bill, including last Sunday, when, according to organisers, 1.03 million people marched. Police put the figure at 240,000.
Why are foreign governments weighing in?
The speaker of the US House of Representatives strongly condemned the bill and offered support to the protesters on Wednesday.
In a statement, Nancy Pelosi said the extradition proposal “chillingly showcases Beijing’s brazen willingness to trample over the law to silence dissent and stifle the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong”.
Pelosi explained in the statement that she was speaking up because the bill “imperils the safety of the 85,000 Americans living in Hong Kong”.
“The extradition bill imperils the strong US-Hong Kong relationship that has flourished for two decades,” she added.




Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed hope that the protesters will come to an accord with officials, saying: “I’m sure they’ll be able to work it out. I hope they’re going to be able to work it out with China.”
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also responded to the protests in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
“Upholding the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, as set out in the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration, is vital to Hong Kong’s future success,” he said.
Ex-Hong Kong minister calls on Carrie Lam to withdraw extradition bill after unrest
But Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang responded that no country, organisation or person had the right to interfere with China’s domestic affairs.
“China strongly opposes the irresponsible and wrong remarks made by certain individuals in the US,” he adds.

What happened on Wednesday?
An initially peaceful morning gathering at Tim Mei Avenue outside the legislature escalated as protesters rushed onto neighbouring thoroughfares, Lung Wo Road, Tim Mei Avenue, Queensway and Harcourt Road, blocking traffic and clashing with officers deployed there.
After multiple clashes in which police using rubber bullets and beanbag rounds for the first time against demonstrators, the riot squad managed to chase most of the protesters to Queensway, where hundreds regrouped outside the Pacific Place shopping centre and remained locked in a stand-off with police into the night.
More than 70 people were injured, including protesters, police officers and journalists.




Why is the Hong Kong government reluctant to shelve it?
Officials said that apart from dealing with the Taiwan murder case, the bill was also needed to plug the legal loophole that allowed suspects to avoid extradition to the island.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also made it clear on Wednesday that the government would not give in to the protesters’ demands.
The housewife mobilising stay-at-home mothers to strike down Carrie Lam’s fugitive plan
“If radical and violent means can achieve their aims, these scenes would only get worse, and definitely bring harm to Hong Kong. So I hope that order can be restored in the society as soon as possible, and I don’t want any more people to be injured in the riot,” she said.

What happens next?
The violence on Wednesday prompted Legco president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, who had set the stage for the bill to be passed by the pro-establishment majority in the legislature as early as next Thursday, to cancel Wednesday’s scheduled second reading.
All eyes will be on whether Leung and the pro-establishment camp return to Legco to convene the meeting on Thursday or Friday.


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

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

Former Hong Kong opposition lawmakers jailed for causing Legco ruckus

Hong Kong extradition bill

What is behind Hong Kong’s anti-extradition protests?

Police push through barricades against protesters on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor speaks to the media and urges schools, businesses and unions to think twice before going on strike in protest against the extradition bill legislation at the Chief Executive's Office in Tamar. 11JUN19 SCMP / Winson Wong

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi participates in a roundtable at the Wellstone Center in St. Paul on May 24, 2019, exploring ways to strengthen community health centers along with Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan and representatives from Minnesota community health centers. (Glen Stubbe/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

At 9:45pm Confrontation is seen ongoing at the Connaught Road Central/ Harcourt Road in Central. 12JUN19 SCMP/ Winson Wong

China slams US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for condemning Hong Kong extradition bill

Protesters march against the extradition bill in Hong Kong on Sunday. Photo: KY Cheng

Carrie Lam vows to press on with controversial extradition bill despite mass protest but tries to pacify dissenters

Protesters cover their faces with posters of Chief Executive Carrie Lam during the march from Causeway Bay to the government headquarters in Admiralty. Photo: Winson Wong

(L-R) Secretary for Justice, Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu,  speaks during a press conference at the government headquarters in Hong Kong on June 10, 2019, a day after the city witnessed its largest street protest in at least 15 years as crowds massed against plans to allow extraditions to China. - Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader said she had no plans to withdraw a controversial plan to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland, a day after huge crowds came out to oppose the proposal 10JUN19 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest to demand authorities scrap a proposed extradition bill with China, outside the Legislative Council in Admiralty. 10JUN19 SCMP/ Edmond So

Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest to demand authorities scrap a proposed extradition bill with China, outside the Legislative Council in Admiralty. 10JUN19 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

Protestors march from Causeway Bay to the Government Headquarters in Admiralty, in protest against the extradition bill. The Civil Human Rights Front has estimated that 300,000 residents will join their third mass rally against the bill. 09JUN19 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Hong Kong extradition bill: both sides make final appeals ahead of mass rally that pan-democrats hope will draw 500,000

Former chief secretary Anson Chan made a last-minute appeal for the public to support the rally on Sunday. Photo: Handout

Student concern group protest outside Liaison Office of the Central People's Government before march to Causeway Bay.

Former Secretary for Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie attends a CPPCC meeting at Friends of Hong Kong Association Ltd. at Central Plaza in Wan Chai. 16MAY19 SCMP / Nora Tam

Hong Kong extradition bill: thousands of protesters block city streets and prepare for worst as riot police gather nearby

Demonstrators block Lung Wo Road in Admiralty in Hong Kong as part of a protest against the government’s contentious extradition bill. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Demonstrators block Lung Woo Road during a protest to demand authorities scrapping a proposed extradition bill 12JUN19 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

Demonstrators block Lung Woo Road during a protest to demand authorities scrapping a proposed extradition bill 12JUN19 SCMP/ Dickson Lee

News

Hong Kong

Politics

Government’s divisive bill has prompted hundreds of thousands to take to the streets
Critics of bill say it could result in Hongkongers being sent to mainland China for trial, but the government says it is necessary


Government’s divisive bill has prompted hundreds of thousands to take to the streets. Critics of bill say it could result in Hongkongers being sent to mainland China for trial, but the government says it is necessary.


What is behind Hong Kong’s anti-extradition protests?

Government’s divisive bill has prompted hundreds of thousands to take to the streets Critics of bill say it could result in Hongkongers being sent to mainland China for trial, but the government says it is necessary

Government’s divisive bill has prompted hundreds of thousands to take to the streets

Critics of bill say it could result in Hongkongers being sent to mainland China for trial, but the government says it is necessary