In June 2019, there were protests in Hong Kong caused by the China government’s new plans to allow criminals’ extradition to Mainland China. The Chinese authorities wanted to pass a national security law that would further threaten Human rights and political activism (Wan 43). Moreover, there were police brutality cases and democratic decay in Hongkong that needed to be rid of. Hong Kong is different from other Chinese cities as its inhabitants enjoy the freedom not witnessed elsewhere (Wan 43). However, many changes were plotted by the authorities aimed at ending this freedom and oppressing the citizens living in Hong Kong.
Besides, there have been many disappearances of booksellers, tycoons, and activists in Hong Kong. Human. Human. Human. Human. Human. Human. Human. Human. Human. Human rights groups in the province have been accusing the government of pushing the extradition policies and new national security laws that oppress Chinese nationals (Wan 43). Conversely, the China Government undermined the press as the RTHK presenter was questioned on why they engaged in interviews with World Health Organizations (Wan 38). The media cannot engage in any airing of satirical news. The province’s election situation is also undemocratic as the people have to choose leaders from those vetted and approved by the pro-Beijing Committee (Wan 43). These factors led to the protests, where the police were engaged in violent clashes with the activists.
Furthermore, the Hongkongers protested against the police brutality and wanted there to be full democracy in Hong Kong as what was being practiced was a sham democracy. Nonetheless, the protests subsided during the Covid 19 pandemic, but still, Hongkong people, who still view themselves as non-Chinese, continue to protest in singing protest in malls (Wan 43). The main issue with the protests is that the new national security law will increase oppression and police brutality already present in Hong Kong. If the law is passed, then it means that these people’s rights will be infringed, and they will have nothing to do other than watch.
Work Cited
Wan Chan, Debby Sze, and Ngai Pun. “Economic Power of the Politically Powerless in the 2019 Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Movement.” Critical Asian Studies, vol. 52, no. 1. 2020, pp. 33–43. Web.