Hong Kong took to the streets against the loss of freedoms imposed by China

A tide of hundreds of thousands of protesters covered the center of Hong Kong in a major protest against a law that governs the communist regime in Beijing and allowed the extradition of people to mainland China. Although Hong Kong has been part of China since 1997, it maintains a special regime that allows it to be the only district in the country to enjoy political freedom and freedom of expression. Chinese President Xi Xinping has proposed to end these freedoms, which he sees as a dangerous example for the rest of China.

The big demonstration took place three days before the local government submits the extradition proposal to the legislature, with the idea of ​​approving it at the end of the month. The local police estimated the participation to about 240,000 people, but the organizers of the march, the Civilian Front for Human Rights, estimated the number of spectators to more than one million people, which makes it probably the most important event in the world. the history of Hong Kong. The South China Morning Post newspaper reported that about 500,000 people. Beyond the number, it is obvious that the Hongkones have taken to the streets, united in their rejection of the law that will allow extradition to the dreaded Chinese prisons.

Carrie Lam, the unpopular leader of the Hong Kong government, continued the project despite the many criticisms of human rights groups, students, lawyers and men d & # 39; business. The Chinese legal system does not guarantee the same rights from a distance as Hong Kong, with its status as a semi-autonomous region and its tradition based on Anglo-Saxon law.

Denise Ho, a singer and activist, said Hong Kong seemed politically revitalized. "People are starting to see how horrible this bill is that they grow,"

Hong Kong has been seen to guarantee the right to preserve its own social, legal and political systems during the 50 years that followed its transfer from the British government to China in 1997, under the auspices of "a country , two systems ". Since Xi Xinping came to power, this pact has begun not to be fulfilled. The ruling Chinese Communist Party has imposed unpopular legal changes. Unlike other people in China, Hong Kong has been used for generations to enjoy freedom of expression and broad political rights. Now let's see how they systematically cut these freedoms. Hong Kong restricts extradition to the jurisdictions with which it has extradition agreements, in accordance with a law approved before 1997. China has been excluded because of its absolute lack of guarantees, its lack of independence of the judicial system and mbadive violations of human rights. of the communist regime. Chinese authorities are persecuting opponents by accusing them of dubious crimes, such as tax evasion. The Hong Kong-based local government in Beijing says extradition revisions to China are needed to remove the alleged loopholes, but opponents say it is an obvious pretext for reduce the independence of Hong Kong.

In the streets, you can see a full sample of the motley Hong Kong society. Business lawyers and university students, housewives and religious leaders, migrant workers and artists have organized one of the largest events in Hong Kong's history. Shortly after midnight, when the government's permit for the protest expired, hundreds of protesters who tried to sit in the Hong Kong Legislative Palace were repressed by the police with paint guns and arrests.

A few hours ago and despite the sweltering heat and storm clouds that were forming in the city, hundreds of thousands of people participated in the parade, in scenes reminiscent of the 2014 "umbrella movement" and a mbadive rally in 2003, which actually filed a bill on "sedition" backed by Beijing. Thus, the Chinese attempts to control Hong Kong have long existed: it is clear that the old conception of the colony is perceived as a dangerous focus by the repressive communist conception. Hong Kong has been the economic model adopted by China since 1978, under Deng Ziao Ping, to successfully take off from the Chinese economy based on high doses of capitalism. But in terms of democratic freedoms, the regime has always denied any change or openness. On June 4, the 30th anniversary of the suppression of student protests in Tiananmen Square, a mbadacre ordered by Deng himself, was commemorated.

Critics of the bill, which includes many members of the city's legal and judicial community, said the measure would give the Chinese authorities the power to extradite political opponents without any local legislative control.

Repressive climbing

The city has been shaken since 2016 by the growing reach of Chinese security forces, who have kidnapped street editors and dissident leaders without any legal cover for extradition proceedings.

The former British colony also found the reduction of electoral freedoms and the press. The law on extradition, according to Hong Kong lawyers, businessmen and non-profit organizations, would be a fatal blow to the city's political autonomy. Just hours before the start of the march, the Hong Kong government said the bill would "have no impact, no interference, no chilling effect on the freedom of badembly, press, expression." , of academic freedom or publication, nor would it relate to crimes of a political nature ". Guarantees have been incorporated into the Hong Kong judicial system, which operates "without interference".

These statements failed to keep the protesters at home. For hours, they left the subway, through the streets and bus stops, to join Hennessey Road, the main east-west artery, forming a slow procession that stretched for several kilometers along the boulevard and looked like a canyon. The protesters crossed the barricades of the police and borrowed Hennessy Road to encircle the Hong Kong Legislative Palace.