Almost two million protesters hit the streets of Hong Kong last Sunday, making it the city state's biggest protest ever. Even though Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, tried to satisfy the citizens by “indefinitely suspend” a new controversial bill, protests will probably go on. "This is a historic moment for the future of Hong Kong" is what you hear on the streets. But why? And what is that new bill about?
On February 8, 2018, a couple went from their home in Hong Kong to the Taiwanese capital of Taipei on vacation. The only one who would survive the trip however was the 19-year old husband, as he returned alone to Hong Kong on February 17th. A month later, he confessed to the Hong Kong authorities that he had killed his girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time. However, there was a problem: Hong Kong couldn't charge him, as the murder happened in Taiwan, and couldn't extradite him either a there was no extradition agreement between Hong Kong and Taiwan.
In order to change that situation, the Hong Kong authorities proposed a new bill: The 'Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019', commonly referred to as the 'extradition bill'. It would establish a mechanism for case-by-case transfers of fugitives by the Chief Executive to any jurisdiction with which the city lacks a formal extradition treaty, including Mainland China. As (pro-china) supporters of the bill state that it would heal the cracks in the current system, the pro-democratic parties very much fear the bill as it would give China more power over the Hong Kong people. "This law makes it possible that residents of Hong Kong can be extradited to mainland China, where there is no fair trial, no human punishment and where there is completely no separation of powers.", as pro-democracy legislator Claudia Mo states it.
And that's what sparked these immense protests. The majority of Hong Kong residents want to avoid a contradiction bill with China at all costs.
“In mainland China, there no fair trial, no human punishment and no separation of powers at all."
What's up between Hong Kong and China?
Hong Kong and China are two very different places with a very complex political relationship. Technically the city of Hong Kong belongs to the People's Republic of China, however it operates as a semi-autonomous region. It has its own currency, political system, rights, ... In daily life, it basically operates as an independent country.
It all began in the late 18 hundreds when China lost a series of wars to Britain. China ended up ceding Hong Kong for 99 years. Until 1997, Hong Kong remained a British colony of which the residents lived the western capitalistic and democratic life, combined with their local (more Chinese) culture. The stability, security, and predictability of British law and government enabled Hong Kong to flourish as a centre for international trade. Before the second world war, it were mostly western business men ruling the opium businesses in the port city. After the war however, more and more local Hongkongers established themselves as rich businessmen in, inter alia, the financial sector.
In 1997, Britain gave Hong Kong back to China after ruling it for 99 years. In the transfer agreement however, several conditions were established. The so-called 'One Country, Two Systems' made Hong Kong a part of China while it kept its democratic, capitalistic rights, such as the right to vote and the freedom of speech, press and assembly. All while enjoying a high degree of autonomy and the English common law as a mini-constitution. That made the region very different from the authoritarian mainland China, where the legal system is often used to silence people that speak up against the government.
China's encroachment on Hong Kong's autonomy.
The 'One Country, Two Systems' was set for at least 50 years, expected to expire in 2047. What would happen afterwards, has never been publicly published. However, China clearly doesn't want to wait that long. Over the years, Beijing tried to get more and more influence in the region. Under the rule of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, pro-democracy leaders in Hong Kong have already been arrested and mysterious abductions of booksellers have created a threat to free speech. And also physically, China tries to attach the peninsula more and more to its mainland. Xi Jinping opened on 23 October 2018 a 55-kilometre (34 mi) bridge–tunnel system across the ocean linking Hong Kong and (the former Portugese colony and also autonomous region of) Macao, via the Chinese city of Zhuhai.
Even though it cuts down car travel in between the city states tremendously, the bridge has been criticized by many. It followed the new high speed rail line connecting Shenzen with Hong Kong, which started service only 1 month earlier on 23 September 2018. The high speed line makes it possible to travel by train from Beijing West to the Hong Kong city center, a distance of 2,439 kilometres (1,516 mi), in less than 9 hours.
Hong Kong has been pushing back.
Hongkongers see their Chinese ruler slowly taking away their special rights and see their life change under the Chinese oppression. However, they don't just let it happen. In 2003, half a million citizen successfully fought legislation that would have punished speaking out against China. In 2014, tens of thousands of people occupied the streets for several months to speak out against the Chinese influence in the Hong Kong elections.
These protests against the extradition bill are a new reaction against the Chinese influence, as it's seen as the next step in China's encroachment on Hong Kong's autonomy. However according to the protesters, it's different this time. The enormous scale of the protests (over 1/4th of the total population hit the streets) sends out a clear message against China.
The Hong Kong's pro-China and pro-democratic parties.
To understand why the Hong Kong government ever accepted these pro-China changes, you need to know the political system of Hong Kong. First of all, the Hong Kong citizens can't vote directly for their leader. The chief executive is elected by a small committee and approved by China. The laws on the other hand are proposed and voted for by the democratically elected representatives of the Legislative Council.
This Council consists of 70 seats that are claimed by representatives of either pro-democratic or pro-China parties. In every election since 1997, the pro-democratic parties have always won the popular vote with 60-80%. However, in the council, they have always been a minority. It's because only 40 out of 70 representatives are elected democratically by the citizens. The other 30 members each represent a business sector, whose seats are voted on by cooperations. For most big businesses it's better to be friendly with China, as it has an enormous outlet. Therefore, many of these sectors have a pro-China representative.
Even though Hong Kong made an agreement with China in 1997 that "the aim is to eventually elect all representatives in the council by popular votes", it never happened. That's why pro-China continues being the most powerful side in the Legislation Council, with only 20-40% of the votes.
The future of Hong Kong
Many Hongkongers consider this new movement as an historical speak up against China. It's also the reason why the protesters weren't happy with Carrie Lam only indefinitely suspending the bill: They want it to be withdrawn completely. "We are fighting to simply keep the rights we've always had", as protesters say. "We don't have to wait until 2047, as China is already pushing forward its agenda."
What will happen after 2047 however, remains unclear. With marches like these, the majority of Hongkongers try to postpone Chinese influence in the region as much as possible and hope to make another agreement in 2047 that protects their rights. As for now, there is not much support for an independent Hong Kong, as it relies on China not only for its businesses, but also for food and other supplies.
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