Hong Kong protests: all the latest updates | New

Protests have arisen in Hong Kong against a controversial extradition bill that, if approved, would allow suspects to be sent to Mainland China for trial.

On June 9, more than a million people protested against the bill, fearing that they would allow China to infringe on the rights of this semi-autonomous territory.

Three days later, Hong Kong police fired rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas at hundreds of thousands of people surrounding a government complex.

On June 15, Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, decided to suspend the bill, without, however, announcing that it was permanently abandoned.

While the leaders of the event call for a new mbad event, here are the latest updates:

Hong Kong activists urge people to strike

Hong Kong activists are encouraging the public to support strikes by workers, teachers and students on Monday.

The appeal comes as Hong Kong residents gather for a march into downtown Sunday to protest the government's plan to enact an extradition law.

Bonny Leung and other leaders of the Civil Rights Front for Democracy said unions, teachers and others would continue their plans for a strike Monday as part of the campaign against the draft law on l & # 39; extradition.

She says, "We encourage everyone to continue the campaign."

Mbadive events

Hong Kong is preparing for another mbadive demonstration against an unpopular bill on extradition. A week after the crisis, one million people are on the streets.

Hong Kong general manager Carrie Lam said on Saturday that she was suspending work on the bill that would allow some suspects to be tried by Chinese mainland courts.

But pro-democracy activists say this is not enough. They want the proposal withdrawn and ask Lam to withdraw.

Mourners laid Sunday flowers on the sidewalk near the place where a man died a day earlier after hanging a protest banner on a scaffold in a mall.

Read more here.

Saturday, June 15:

Britain welcomes decision to suspend extradition bill

British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt welcomed the Hong Kong government's decision to suspend the extradition bill.

"Congratulations to the Hong Kong government for taking into account the concerns of brave citizens who have defended their fundamental rights," Hunt said on Twitter. "Safeguarding the rights and freedoms set out in the Sino-British joint declaration is the best future for HK and Britain is joining this legally binding agreement."

Congratulations to the Hong Kong government for taking into account the concerns of brave citizens who have defended their fundamental rights. The defense of the rights and freedoms set out in the Sino-British Joint Declaration is the best future for HK and Britain supports this legally binding agreement.

– Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) June 15, 2019

"Hong Kong's business is an internal affair"

From China Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Hong Kong's business was an internal affair with China and that no country, organization or individual had the right to ingest it.

His spokesman, Geng Shuang, said the ministry had taken note of Lam's announcement. He said China's determination to preserve the country's sovereignty and security, as well as Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, was unshakeable.

The formula "one country, two systems" according to which Hong Kong is ruled by China since 1997 has been applied "expeditiously", and the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong fully guaranteed, said Shuang in a statement issued by the Ministry. website.

No change in the Sunday rally plan

The leaders of the protest in Hong Kong announced that they would hold a rally scheduled for Sunday despite the government's suspension of an extradition bill.

"We must tell the government that the people of Hong Kong will persist and not stop demonstrating against it unless the bill is withdrawn," Jimmy Sham, of the United Nations Human Rights Front, told reporters. man and civilians.

Hong Kong suspends unpopular bill

Executive Director Carrie Lam announced a debate on the controversial extradition bill Hong Kong Legislative Council will be suspended, after widespread anger and large-scale demonstrations in the Asian financial center.

In one of the biggest reversals of the government since Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule in 1997, Lam said the city's legislative badembly would stop any work on the bill. The next steps will be decided after consultations with different parties, she said.

The US Consulate in Hong Kong welcomed this decision. Read more here.

Video: #Hong Kong suspended a controversial draft law on the extradition law until new order after months of protest and criticism: https://t.co/UMaq0xmhlU

Chief Carrie Lam: "We regret that this incident caused a split in the company."

Drive Fundraising 2019: https://t.co/biDMrS7Y5Y pic.twitter.com/DIdkCwEZPY

– Hong Kong Free Press (@HongKongFP) June 15, 2019

Hong Kong leader's press conference

Hong Kong chef Carrie Lam will hold a press conference at 3:00 pm local time (07:00 GMT).

Local media reported Saturday, citing unnamed sources, that Lam planned to announce that it was suspending an extradition bill that would be unpopular with many Hong Kong residents.

Government officials did not confirm this, although many lawmakers and others involved claimed it was likely. Read more here.

Thursday, June 13th:

Vote on the extradition bill postponed again

The Hong Kong Legislature will not vote Friday on the controversial extradition bill, reported Rob McBride, of Al Jazeera, based in Hong Kong.

The vote was scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed as a result of mbadive protests that forced the government and legislative buildings to close on Friday.

It is not known when the vote will take place.

Local journalists protest at police press conference

Local journalists protested police claims that the police did not use excessive force against protesters on Wednesday.

At a press conference held Thursday by the police, local journalists donned the high visibility jacket, helmet and gas mask worn by the protesters "just to show that they did not believe that the Hong Kong police were acting with a minimum of strength, "Rob McBride, Al Jazeera reported.

For their part, the police reported using a minimum of force and showing restraint.

HK – certainly does not seek the help of the Chinese army, according to the police chief

Hong Kong Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung said the city would "certainly" not ask for help from the Chinese army to deal with mbad protests.

"At the moment, we would not be looking for [the People’s Liberation Army’s] badistance. We have enough manpower and power to maintain the situation, "Lo said.

He added that 22 policemen were wounded on Wednesday and that demonstrators used bricks and poles to attack the police.

The comment comes a little more than a week after the 30th anniversary of the student protests on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, during which an unknown number of protesters were killed by the Chinese army.

Eleven arrested Wednesday at a demonstration: the police chief

Hong Kong authorities arrested 11 people at Wednesday's protests, police chief Stephen Lo Wai-chung said on Thursday.

At a press conference, Mr. Lo said that 22 policemen were injured during the demonstration, which took a violent turn when police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray. .

Hong Kong protesters call for new rally and strike

The leaders of the Hong Kong protest announced their intention to hold another mbad rally on Sunday and a strike in the city on Monday.

"[We] Jimmy Sham of the Civil Human Rights Front, the main protest group, said he had asked permission to hold the weekend rally.

"In the face of ignorance, contempt and repression, we will only be stronger, there will be more Hong Kongers," he told reporters on Thursday.

China responds to comments from the EU

China reacted to the European Union's comments on political freedom in Hong Kong, urging the bloc to be "cautious" about any interference in China's "internal affairs".

Geng Shuang, a spokesman for From China Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed "deep dissatisfaction and resolute opposition" to "irresponsible and erroneous" statements of the EU.

"We have said over and over again that Hong Kong's business is only China's domestic affairs," said Geng. "No country, organization or individual has the right to intervene".

The EU had previously called on the Hong Kong government to respect the rights of protesters.

Seventy-nine people treated after Wednesday's protests: Hong Kong officials

Public hospitals in Hong Kong treated 79 people for protest-related injuries at 11 am local time (0300 GMT).

A statement from the hospital authority said 56 wounded were men and 23 women, adding that these figures included both civilians and police officers.

Taiwan says demonstrations show "one country, two systems" does not work

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said the protests in Hong Kong showed the "one country, two systems" framework was not working.

Tsai told reporters on Thursday that the Hong Kong government should listen to its people and not rush to adopt the controversial law that sparked the protests.

Former British colony, Hong Kong was sent back to China under the principle of "one country, two systems", in which Hong Kong enjoyed semi-autonomy and greater freedoms than mainland China.

China claims that Taiwan is self-governing and wants the territory to come together in a framework similar to that of Hong Kong.

In an article published Wednesday on Facebook, Tsai urged people to "look at Hong Kong and think of Taiwan".

Young people lose confidence in police and government, Hong Kong official said

A lawmaker in Hong Kong said that young people in that country had lost faith in the police and their government following violent clashes with protesters.

Labor Party Vice President Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung told the Associated Press that relations between citizens and authorities "have completely deteriorated".

Cheung said Thursday that "we have seen [the police] use extreme forces not proportional to the demonstration ".

He added that the widespread use of face masks by protesters and their reluctance being identified was understandable given the authorities' growing tendency to carry heavy charges of seemingly benign offenses for public disorder.

Telegram CEO connects cyber attack to China

Pavel Durov, CEO of the encrypted email application Telegram, said she had been hit by a powerful cyberattack that had coincided with the protests.

In a publication Durov said Thursday on Twitter that the attack came mainly from a Chinese IP address.

"Historically, all state actors [attacks] we had a coincidence with the demonstrations in Hong Kong (coordinated on @telegram). This case was not an exception ".

The messaging system is frequently used to organize demonstrations in the hope of avoiding government oversight.

IP addresses come mainly from China. Historically, all DDoS (200-400 Gb / s of junks) the size of a state actor coincided with protests in Hong Kong (coordinated @telegram). This case was not an exception.

– Pavel Durov (@durov) June 12, 2019

Hong Kong authorities closed government offices due to protests

Hong Kong authorities have closed government offices in the city's financial district for the remainder of the week after a day of violence over an extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to court in Mainland China.

Early Thursday, only a handful of protesters remained in motion while a general cleanup had taken place around the city's legislative badembly.

Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray during a series of skirmishes on Wednesday to free protesters from the city's legislature.

It was one of the worst abuses in Hong Kong since Britain returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

The Hong Kong Hospital Authority said 72 people were hospitalized Wednesday at 10 pm.

Chinese official media blame Hong Kong protests for "disregard of laws"

Protests in Hong Kong against new extradition legislation with China "tarnish" the city's reputation, and "lawlessness" flares undermine rule of law, Chinese official media say in published editorials Thursday.

Hong Kong riot police and protesters are preparing for new clashes on Thursday after a day of violence around the extradition bill that would allow people to be brought to justice in Mainland China .

The English language newspaper China Daily said the new amendments were in line with international conventions, but that "the opposition camp and its foreign masters seem willing to oppose them for their own purposes, at the expense of the rule of law, public security and justice of the city ".

"It's anarchy that will hurt Hong Kong, not the proposed amendments to its law on fugitives," he said.

The state tabloid, The Global Times, has accused the "radical opposition forces" and "Western forces behind them" of chanting and politicizing the amendments.

Wednesday, June 12:

Hong Kong leader slams "flagrant and organized riot"

Hong Kong director Carrie Lam has blamed the protesters for this political "riot" of violence and police.

Lam said some young people in the crowd had expressed their views peacefully, but she condemned the protesters who resorted to "dangerous acts that can put their lives in danger".

Lam's added that the peaceful demonstrations that took place in the streets of the city on Sunday became a "flagrant and organized riot".

EU says Hong Kong rights "must be respected"

The European Union said on Wednesday that the Hong Kong government must respect the rights of citizens, while all parties must show restraint after violent protests against projects allowing extradition to mainland China.

"In recent days, the people of Hong Kong have exercised their fundamental right to bademble and to express themselves freely and peacefully.These rights must be respected," said a statement from the "External Affairs" branch of the 39; EU.

"All parties must exercise restraint, and violence and escalation must be avoided," the text added.

Rights group denounces "excessive" police forces

Amnesty International condemned what the Hong Kong police had used as an excessive force against largely peaceful protesters, saying that it violated international law and could lead to a worsening of violence.

Man-Kei Tam, director of Amnesty in Hong Kong, said that tear gas and rubber bullets should never be used to disperse peaceful protesters because they are "notoriously inaccurate and indiscriminate, and may result in serious or even fatal injuries ".

The rights group warned that police action "fueled tensions and would likely contribute to worsening, rather than ending, violence."

At least 72 people were taken to the hospital after mbadive demonstrations. According to Hong Kong hospital authorities, 10 were still in treatment, 19 were in stable condition and 41 had been released.

Trump hopes protesters 'will hear' with China

US President Donald Trump said he understands Hong Kong protesters, but hopes they can "fix the problem" with Beijing.

"I hope they will be able to get on with China," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I understand the reason for the protest," he said. "I hope everything will be fine for China and for Hong Kong."

Trump's cautious response to what he said being "mbadive" protests came as Washington and Beijing tried to recover the pieces of their collapsed talks on the resolution of a trade war.

"We are doing very well with China," said Trump, referring to the huge tariffs imposed on imports from China. "I have the feeling that we will conclude an agreement with China," he said.

Protesters promise to continue fighting

After a day of sit-ins, tear gas and clashes with the police, Hong Kong students and civil rights activists pledged to continue protesting the extradition bill.

"We will stay until the government removes this law and [Chinese President] Xi Jinping renounces wanting to turn Hong Kong into another city in China, like Beijing and Shanghai ", student Louis Wong Said Wong.

Traffic in one of the busiest areas of the city remained blocked.

"We want the government to simply leave the law aside and not bring it back," said a protester who had given him only his first name, Marco, because he feared possible repercussions from the authorities.

Another protester, who gave his name only as king, said: "We must defend our rights, otherwise they will be kidnapped".

Germany reviews its extradition agreement with Hong Kong

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Germany "is currently examining whether the existing bilateral extradition agreement between Germany and Hong Kong could continue to be implemented in its current form if the draft law on planned extradition is approved ".

Maria Adebahr also said that Berlin and its partners in the European Union had expressed concern to the Hong Kong authorities.

Steffen Seibert, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokeswoman, said the fact that the majority of protesters are peaceful is a good sign, "and we call on all concerned to ensure that the situation in Hong Kong remains peaceful" .

Legal group asks Hong Kong to withdraw bill

The Hong Kong Bar urged the government to "withdraw the bill for thorough and appropriate consultation".

In a letter to Carrie Lam, Hong Kong leader, President Philip Dykes said the group wanted to know if the government had taken into account the human rights situation in mainland China before asking for badurances from Beijing about it.

UK PM May: We are worried

British Prime Minister Theresa May said that the extradition rules in Hong Kong must respect the rights and freedoms set out in the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984.

"We are concerned about the potential effects of these proposals, especially as the number of British citizens in Hong Kong is high," May told the parliament.

"But it is essential that these extradition agreements in Hong Kong conform to the rights and freedoms set out in the Sino-British joint declaration."

UK calls on Hong Kong to suspend extradition bill

Britain urged the Hong Kong government to "think and think" about the extradition bill that provoked many demonstrations and said that the former British colony had to protect its rights, his liberties and his high degree of autonomy.

"I urge the Hong Kong government to listen to the concerns of its people and friends in the international community and pause to reflect on these controversial measures," said Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt.

"It is essential that the authorities engage in a constructive dialogue and take steps to preserve Hong Kong's rights and freedoms and its high degree of autonomy, which underpin its international reputation."

Police defend "non-lethal" use of force

At a brief press conference as chaos swirled just outside, Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung called the riot demonstration and condemned the "irresponsible behavior" of the demonstrators.

This could mean long prison terms for anyone arrested, adding to concerns that the Hong Kong government is using public disturbance laws to intimidate political protesters.

Police spokesman Gong Weng Chun defended the decision to use tear gas and other non-lethal weapons to quell the protest.

The protesters begin to gas

Hong Kong police used tear gas, pepper spray and high-pressure water hoses against protesters who besieged government buildings to oppose the draft law. extradition.

Thousands of protesters blocked the entrance to Hong Kong's government headquarters, delaying a legislative session on proposed changes to the law.

Protesters moved the metal barriers to control the crowd, ignoring police warnings to stop. When the crowd had access to the premises of the legislature, the police fired more tear gas to repel them.

After the dispersal of the crowd, a hundred demonstrators were standing. in a section of the complex.

Hong Kong Administration: 'Leave the zone & # 39;

In a previous statement to reporters, the chief general secretary to the administration, Mathew Cheung, had asked the protesters to leave the premises.

"The Hong Kong government is calling people who block roads to (…) return to the sidewalk as soon as possible," he said.

Cheung gave no indication as to when the delayed legislative debate would begin.

China reiterates support for Hong Kong government

The Chinese central government strongly supports the Hong Kong government by enacting an extradition law, the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, said at a press conference in Beijing that the dominant public opinion of Hong Kong opposed any action that harmed Hong Kong. He also urged the United States to speak and act cautiously about Hong Kong.

Tens of thousands of Hong Kong protesters encircled the Chinese-led city's legislature, forcing it to postpone the second round of debate on the bill.

Consulate of Hong Kong in Taiwan

Dozens of people demonstrated outside the Hong Kong Consulate in Taiwan to denounce proposed changes to Hong Kong's extradition laws.

Hong Kong students sitting in front of the consulate in Taipei held up posters saying "No extradition to China" and chanting "The Hong Kong government, shame on you".

Ho Wing Tung, a student from Hong Kong to Taiwan, said that the rule of law would not exist if the law was adopted and that she feared that the "one country, two systems" principle would become a reality. joke.

Hong Kong delays mbad debate

Thousands of protesters blocked the entrance to the Hong Kong government headquarters, delaying a legislative session on the proposed law change.

The crowd, extremely numerous, overflowed on a main road in the city center, breaking down barriers and arguing with police in front of the building housing the chambers where the legislature was to debate the bill.

Dans une brève déclaration du gouvernement, il a été annoncé que la session qui devait commencer à 11 heures serait "reportée à une date ultérieure". Dans une déclaration antérieure, il avait été conseillé aux membres du personnel de ne pas se rendre au travail et aux personnes déjà présentes de "rester sur leur lieu de travail jusqu'à nouvel ordre".

Portant des lunettes de protection et un casque, et se protégeant avec un parapluie, les manifestants de Hong Kong ont tenté de prendre d'badaut le complexe gouvernemental Legco [Euan McKirdy/Al Jazeera]

Mardi 11 juin

Débat ouvert sur un projet de loi controversé

Les manifestants à Hong Kong se rbademblent devant l'bademblée législative semi-autonome du territoire chinois alors que des plans sont prévus pour d'autres manifestations et actions de grève mercredi matin.

L'administration du directeur général de Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, envisage d'ouvrir le débat sur les amendements législatifs mercredi.

La plus grande manifestation depuis des décennies

Le président de la législature de Hong Kong a annoncé le calendrier du débat sur les modifications litigieuses apportées aux lois sur l'extradition du territoire, prévoyant un vote avant le 20 juin.

Le président de l'Assemblée législative, Andrew Leung, a déclaré mardi qu'il avait accepté 153 des 238 amendements proposés aux projets de loi. Il a dit qu'il y aurait 66 heures pour le débat.

Des centaines de milliers de personnes ont manifesté dimanche contre la législation lors de la plus grande manifestation à Hong Kong depuis plus de dix ans.

La participation a reflété la crainte grandissante suscitée par les relations avec le continent gouverné par le Parti communiste.