Protesters gather outside Hong Kong government offices to rally against extradition bill
- 5 years ago
Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam is refusing to back down on a new extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to Taiwan, Macau, and mainland China for trial, sparking a fresh wave of protests in Hong Kong.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to our Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, the legislation is due for a second round of debate on Wednesday. How are the protesters handling this?
Well Connyoung, not even thunderstorms in Hong Kong could stop thousands of people protesting against the proposed extradition bill in front of the Legislative Council, the place where the law is due for a second round of debate on Wednesday.
Police tightened security over the area, conducting random ID checks.
Hong Kong faces a citywide shutdown on Wednesday as the city's bus labor union plans to drive extra slowly in protest and thousands of teachers will also participate.
"We believe that maybe we should use something less violent but to more effective ways, for example, like not going to school or some of the shops are closed down for one day to show their stance and show how important it is for the chief executive to care and think twice before letting the bill to be passed."
"Now we can see the government even ignore many people's opinions, so it's quite difficult to estimate what will happen later, but at the time being, honestly, I'm quite disappointed and I don't think they will listen to the people and they will still go ahead, but I think they will pay for it."
Despite the outpouring of opposition that stems from the fear the amendments would allow Chinese authorities to take people for political reasons and undermine Hong Kong's semi-autonomous legal system, the extradition law is expected to pass.
This is because the city's 70-seat Legislative Council is controlled by a pro-Beijing majority.
It normally takes three rounds of debates to pass a bill but they could raise the stakes by carrying out the third one on the same day.
Lam told reporters on Monday that the new bill will help Hong Kong uphold justice and that human rights on the island will continue to be protected.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to our Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, the legislation is due for a second round of debate on Wednesday. How are the protesters handling this?
Well Connyoung, not even thunderstorms in Hong Kong could stop thousands of people protesting against the proposed extradition bill in front of the Legislative Council, the place where the law is due for a second round of debate on Wednesday.
Police tightened security over the area, conducting random ID checks.
Hong Kong faces a citywide shutdown on Wednesday as the city's bus labor union plans to drive extra slowly in protest and thousands of teachers will also participate.
"We believe that maybe we should use something less violent but to more effective ways, for example, like not going to school or some of the shops are closed down for one day to show their stance and show how important it is for the chief executive to care and think twice before letting the bill to be passed."
"Now we can see the government even ignore many people's opinions, so it's quite difficult to estimate what will happen later, but at the time being, honestly, I'm quite disappointed and I don't think they will listen to the people and they will still go ahead, but I think they will pay for it."
Despite the outpouring of opposition that stems from the fear the amendments would allow Chinese authorities to take people for political reasons and undermine Hong Kong's semi-autonomous legal system, the extradition law is expected to pass.
This is because the city's 70-seat Legislative Council is controlled by a pro-Beijing majority.
It normally takes three rounds of debates to pass a bill but they could raise the stakes by carrying out the third one on the same day.
Lam told reporters on Monday that the new bill will help Hong Kong uphold justice and that human rights on the island will continue to be protected.