Chinese media blames Hong Kong demo on collusion with West
China blames ‘Western forces’ for a million-strong demonstration in Hong Kong against a new bill that will allow criminal suspects to be extradited to Beijing
- Organisers say 1,030,000 people marched through the streets of Hong Kong to protest a new extradition law
- Chinese media blamed foreign interference and accused city’s opposition leaders of ‘collusion with the West’
- The extradition bill amendments would allow Hong Kong to send people to mainland China to face charges
- Opponents say law makes Hong Kong residents vulnerable to vague national security charges and unfair trials
Chinese media today blamed foreign interference over the huge protest that brought Hong Kong to a standstill yesterday, accusing opponents of the city’s pro-Beijing government of ‘collusion with the West’.
Organisers say 1,030,000 people marched through the streets of the territory against a proposed new law that would allow suspects wanted in mainland China to be sent across the border for trial.
Opponents of the legislation say it would erode precious freedoms in the city and leave dissidents at the mercy of Beijing’s opaque justice system.
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam today said the legislature would debate the bill on Wednesday as planned, rejecting calls to delay or withdraw the law despite the massive protest.
Police officers use pepper spray against protesters in a rally against the proposed amendments to the extradition law at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong during the early hours of Monday. Organisers say 1,030,000 people marched through the streets of the city yesterday against a proposed new law that would allow extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam today said the legislature would debate the bill on Wednesday as planned, rejecting calls to delay or withdraw the law despite the massive protest. Above, hundreds of thousands of residents march in Hong Kong
Protesters clash with officers after the rally against the new law at the Central Government Complex on Monday morning
Images showing Hong Kong’s cramped streets thronged with protestors made headlines around the world. Chinese media today blamed foreign interference over the huge protest that brought Hong Kong to a standstill yesterday, accusing opponents of the city’s pro-Beijing government of ‘collusion with the West’
The Chinese-language edition of the nationalistic Global Times dismissed Sunday’s mass demonstration, the biggest shows of public anger since Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
‘It is very noteworthy that some international forces have significantly strengthened their interaction with the Hong Kong opposition in recent months,’ the paper said, describing the exchanges as ‘collusion’.
The editorial pointed to meetings between Hong Kong opposition figures and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The English-language China Daily also played down the protest and focused on support for the proposed law
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (centre), flanked by the Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng (left) and the Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu speaks at a press conference in Hong Kong on Monday. Lam said she will not withdraw the controversial extradition bill or resign as chief executive, despite mass protests that gripped the city yesterday
An officer swings his baton as he restrains a protester during the clear up after the clash outside the Legislative Council
After seven hours of marching, organisers estimated 1,030,000 people took part, far outstripping a demonstration in 2003 when half that number hit the streets to successfully challenge government plans for tighter national security laws
The Chinese-language edition of the nationalistic Global Times dismissed Sunday’s mass demonstration, the biggest shows of public anger since Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997
The English-language China Daily also played down the protest and focused on support for the proposed law.
An editorial in the paper said more than 700,000 people had backed the legislation through an online petition, ‘countering a protest by about 240,000 people’ – the more conservative attendance figure given by police.
‘Unfortunately, some Hong Kong residents have been hoodwinked by the opposition camp and their foreign allies into supporting the anti-extradition campaign,’ the paper said.
Drone footage showing Hong Kong’s cramped streets thronged with protestors made headlines around the world. The crowd included young families pushing babies in prams as well as the elderly braving 32 degree Celsius heat.
Protesters who arrived early chanted ‘no China extradition, no evil law’ while others called for Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam to step down.
The nationalistic Global Times dismissed Sunday’s mass demonstration. The editorial pointed to meetings between Hong Kong opposition figures and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
The rallies – and the violence – plunge the global financial hub into a fresh political crisis, with marchers and opposition leaders demanding the bill be shelved and that the city’s Beijing-backed Chief Executive Carrie Lam resign
A protester is detained by an officer during a clash after the rally. But coverage of the massive protest in China was muted
One protester held a sign reading ‘Carry off Carrie’.
The huge rally passed without incident until shortly after midnight when small pockets of protesters fought running battles with police in chaotic and violent scenes.
Images show police using batons and firing pepper spray at protesters. Several people on both sides were injured, and ambulances were called. Metal barriers were left twisted and torn in the clashes.
But coverage in China was muted.
Sunday’s main evening news broadcast by China’s state broadcaster did not mention the protest, while the official Xinhua news agency’s English-language service repeated the city administration’s position on the law ‘in response to a public procession’.
Sunday’s evening news broadcast by China’s state broadcaster did not mention the protest, while the official Xinhua news agency’s English-language service repeated the city administration’s position on the law ‘in response to a public procession’
Searches for yesterday’s massive demonstration on China’s Twitter-like Weibo platform yielded no results, and instead showed older content about unrelated events
A 50-year agreement between Hong Kong’s former colonial ruler, Britain, and China means the city is guaranteed freedoms of speech and assembly unseen on the Chinese mainland
The proposed law being pushed by the territory’s pro-Beijing leadership would allow extraditions to any country with which Hong Kong does not already have a treaty, including mainland China
Searches for the demonstration on China’s Twitter-like Weibo platform yielded no results, and instead showed older content about unrelated events.
A 50-year agreement between Hong Kong’s former colonial ruler, Britain, and China means the city is guaranteed freedoms of speech and assembly unseen on the Chinese mainland.
But activists and opposition politicians are increasingly warning that these liberties are being eroded as Beijing tightens its grip on the city.
The proposed law being pushed by the territory’s pro-Beijing leadership would allow extraditions to any country with which Hong Kong does not already have a treaty, including mainland China.
Supporters say the law is needed to stop the city becoming a safe haven for mainland fugitives, and it has said dissidents will not be extradited.
However, supporters say the law is needed to stop the city becoming a safe haven for mainland fugitives
Hong Kong protesters put their hands up against the police at Tamar Park after the rally yesterday
Chief Executive Carrie Lam signaled that her government will go ahead with proposed amendments to the extradition law
Images show police using batons and firing pepper spray at protesters. Several people on both sides were injured, and ambulances were called. Metal barriers were left twisted and torn in the clashes
But critics fear Beijing would use the law to go after its opponents.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam signaled today that her government will go ahead with proposed amendments to the extradition law.
Lam told reporters the legislation is important and will help Hong Kong uphold justice and fulfill its international obligations. Safeguards added in May will ensure that the legislation protects human rights, she said.
She said her administration had already made major concessions to ensure political cases would not be considered and that human rights safeguards met international standards.
‘Yesterday 1.03 million of us marched and the government is still indifferent, turning a deaf ear to the people. This government has become a dictatorship,’ lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen told reporters
Coverage of the massive protest in China was muted. Searches for the demonstration on China’s Twitter-like Weibo platform yielded no results, and instead showed older content about unrelated events
Protesters who arrived early chanted ‘no China extradition, no evil law’ while others called for Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam to step down
Political analyst Dixon Sing warned Lam could be facing ‘political suicide’ if she pushed for a showdown after such huge rally
‘We have been listening and listening very attentively,’ she said.
But her words drew an incredulous response from opponents who accused her of ignoring massive public opposition.
‘Yesterday 1.03 million of us marched and the government is still indifferent, turning a deaf ear to the people. This government has become a dictatorship,’ lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen told reporters.
Political analyst Dixon Sing warned Lam could be facing ‘political suicide’ if she pushed for a showdown after such huge demonstrations.
‘In the short run, the Hong Kong government led by Carrie Lam will suffer a worsening legitimacy crisis,’ he told AFP. ‘Fewer and fewer people will trust her and the entire cabinet.’
Source: Read Full Article