Hong Kong Protests New Bill That Would Permit Extradition to China, Contrary to Old Agreement

Part of the deal for Britain returning Hong Kong for China was China's guarantee of certain rights to Hong Kong.

They're changing that deal.

China has stocked the Hong Kong legislature with its own loyalists. The city's mayor, Carrie Lam -- actually called a Chief Executive -- seems as determined as Beijing to abrogate Hong Kong's rights.

Hong Kong police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators who threw plastic bottles on Wednesday as protests against an extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial descended into violent chaos.

...

The protesters, most of them young people dressed in black, had erected barricades as they prepared to hunker down for an extended occupation of the area, in scenes reminiscent of pro-democracy "Occupy" protests that gridlocked the former British colony in 2014.

The violence had died down by early evening under light rain, but tens of thousands still jammed the streets in and around Lung Wo Road, a main east-west artery near the offices of embattled Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

"Didn't we say at the end of the Umbrella movement we would be back?" pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo said, referring to the name often used for the 2014 demonstrations, whose trademark was the yellow umbrella.

"Now we are back!" she said as supporters echoed her words.

...

Opposition to the bill on Sunday triggered Hong Kong’s biggest political demonstration since its handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a
"once country, two systems" deal guaranteeing it special autonomy, including freedom of assembly, free press and independent judiciary.

But many accuse China of extensive meddling since, including obstruction of democratic reforms, interference with local elections and of being behind the disappearance of five Hong Kong-based booksellers, starting in 2015, who specialized in works critical of Chinese leaders.

posted by Ace of Spades at 12:06 PM

| Access Comments