The Latest on the Hong Kong Protests

Caption: The Black Bauhinia flag is a variant of Hong Kong’s official red flag that gained popularity during the protests. Source: CNN

On March 1st, 47 pro-democracy activists appeared in a Hong Kong court charged with subversion under the national security law. Hundreds more protesters gathered outside the building to hold a demonstration. Their voices chanted the banned slogan of the protests that have been going on for more than a year: “Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our time!”

The 39 men and 8 women, including prominent activist Joshua Wong and law professor Benny Tai, were arrested for organizing an unofficial primary election in July 2020 — something that would be considered a normal event in democracies worldwide. They were condemned for attempting to win a majority in Hong Kong’s legislature, a move that in parliamentary systems is not only legal but common.

In June 2019, protests began over a bill that would have allowed extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China. This created outrage among Hong Kong citizens because China has been holding the principle of “one country, two systems”, meaning that the city, which is currently a special administrative region of China but not an actual part of the country, will have its own freedoms until the 2030’s. These freedoms include those of assembly, speech, and press, and Hong Kong can have its own legal system and borders. However, it appears that China is taking back control early, preventing US journalists from working in Hong Kong when they were originally banned in the mainland, among other things. The extradition bill seemed to be the last straw, sparking massive gatherings of angry citizens for demonstrations as they protested against their loss of power.

Although the bill has since been withdrawn, the motivation of the protests have expanded to demand democratic reform and inquiries into alleged police brutality.

In June 2020, Beijing imposed a harsh national security law. Combined with the restrictions put in place to combat the ongoing pandemic, protests have been quieting down. 

One part of the national security law bans interference with government functions. However, it is clear that the organization of the government is in mainland China’s favor. The current chief executive (leader) of the formerly British-owned city, Carrie Lam, was elected by a committee of over a thousand members, the majority of which is pro-Beijing. Additionally, the 70 members of the Legislative Council are not all voted on by citizens, and the seats that aren’t directly elected are currently occupied by pro-Beijing lawmakers.

By gaining a majority in the Legislative Council, the 47 activists hoped to block legislation and force Carrie Lam to step down. Their arrests have been the largest use of the national security law so far, raising worries that the judges will be pressured to convict opposition leaders. With the independence of Hong Kong courts uncertain, hundreds of democracy supporters gathered to show their defiance in what has become an unusual sight since the pandemic began.

The future of Hong Kong, a booming metropolis and popular tourist destination, is unclear. According to surveys conducted by the University of Hong Kong, only 11% of participants call themselves “Chinese” — the majority identified as “Hong Kongers” — and an astounding 71% expressed their lack of pride for being Chinese citizens, citing the legal, social, and cultural differences between the two areas. The anti-mainland Chinese sentiment isn’t new; demonstrations of dissent have stretched back over the past couple decades.

In a few years, the “one country, two systems” idea will dissolve as Hong Kong officially becomes part of China. It’s clear that the citizens will be taking further action to fight back against the government and keep their freedoms. The democracy of Hong Kong, even with over a decade left as a special administrative region, is hanging by a thread.

Sources: 

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/hong-kong-flag-design-protest/index.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49317695

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/01/asia/hong-kong-lawmakers-bail-intl-hnk/index.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-48607723

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/world/asia/hong-kong-protest.html

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