Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has announced the city/state’s government has withdrawn an extradition bill that prompted weeks of massive street protests. “The bill, which would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party, first sparked protests in March, which escalated dramatically in June,” the New York Post explained. Lam has rejected four other demands from pro-democracy protesters, however.
The extradition bill is only a symptom of a wider problem, that is, mainland China’s increased meddling in Hong Kong affairs,
With Chinese troops staging at the border, martial law was seen as a real possibility with escalating demonstrations, which included shutting down the Hong Kong airport. It remains to be seen if the protests will die down in response to Lam’s announcement. Protests leaders so far have been unimpressed the bill’s withdrawal, describing it as too little, too late.
Hong Kong, one of the world’s leading financial centers, became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Communist China following the handover by the British in 1997 after the expiration of a 99-year lease. (The other SAR is Macau, which was a Portuguese colony.)
Pursuant to various agreements and the “one country, two systems” principle, free-market Hong Kong has operated generally autonomously from the mainland. The extradition law cast doubt on its ability to maintain its economic and political independence from the Beijing dictatorship, however.
From NPR:
“Hong Kong’s embattled chief executive, Carrie Lam, is officially withdrawing an extradition bill with China after more than three months of sometimes violent protest. In a videotaped speech, Lam cited growing clashes between protesters and police and online harassment from both sides as an impetus for backing down regarding the bill. ‘For many people, Hong Kong has become an unfamiliar place,’ Lam said. ‘We need a common basis to start such a dialogue.” Protests against the bill, which if passed would have seen suspected criminals sent to mainland China to be tried, are now in their 14th week. Lam initially refused to completely withdraw the extradition bill, instead saying that it had been ‘suspended’ on June 15.
“Infuriated, protesters have continued to take to the streets and increased their demands to five, including direct democratic elections for Hong Kong’s next leader and an independent investigation into police brutality during the protests. Lam’s concession Wednesday will likely do little to quell social discontent.”
Lam is the equivalent of a mayor or governor. Hong Kong’s figurehead chief executive is selected, however, by a Beijing-approved elitist cohort rather than directly by Hong Kong citizens in an open election.
Apart from Hong Kong island, most of Hong Kong’s territory is actually situated on the mainland.
Added Reuters:
“In the voice recording obtained by Reuters, Lam said at a meeting last week that her room to find a political solution to the crisis was ‘very limited,’ as authorities in Beijing now viewed the situation as a matter of national security…The protesters’ other four demands are: the retraction of the word ‘riot’ to describe rallies, the release of all arrested demonstrators, an independent inquiry into the police perceived brutality and the right for Hong Kong people to democratically choose their own leaders. “
If you’ve been lucky enough to visit Hong Kong, you know that is a usually peaceful, orderly place with a live-and-let-live attitude, and is served by a modern, efficient public transportation system called the MTR. The dynamic and densely populated city is made up of citizens with a strong work ethic.
The Hong Kong police heretofore have been of its most respected institutions, a reputation which unfortunately has been damaged by the aggressive law enforcement response to the protests, which has resulted in more than 1,000 arrests.
[Hong Kong images credit: Robert Jonathan]