Hong Kong braces for big crowds at annual rally to mark handover

[webfact]

Hong Kong braces for big crowds at annual rally to mark handover

By Anne Marie Roantree

 

People stand behind a barricade during a demonstration near a flag raising ceremony for the anniversary of Hong Kong handover to China in Hong Kong, China July 1, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

 

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong holds an annual pro-democracy march on Monday, the anniversary of its handover to Beijing, that could draw big crowds amid widespread anger over an extradition bill that has plunged the financial hub into turmoil.

 

The bill, which would allow people to be sent to mainland China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party, has hit a nerve across society, drawing criticism from business people, legal circles, schools and church groups.

 

Millions have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest against the now-suspended extradition law to demand it be scrapped, and that embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam step down.

 

The uproar over the bill has reignited a protest movement that had lost steam after pro-democracy demonstrations in 2014 failed to force concessions from Beijing, and led to the arrests of hundreds of activists.

 

In recent years, the July 1 anniversary of the handover of the former British colony in 1997, under a deal to ensure its autonomy, has been marked by deepening despondency about what many residents see as increasing meddling by the mainland and the erosion of freedoms.

 

Beijing denies interfering but for many Hong Kong residents the extradition bill is the latest step in a relentless march towards mainland control.

 

Organisers of the recent protests say they are confident that anger over the city government's failure to withdraw the extradition bill will boost numbers on Monday, which is a public holiday in Hong Kong.

 

Financial markets and most businesses will be closed.

 

The rally is due to start at 0630 GMT in Victoria Park on Hong Kong island and end at government offices near the heart of the financial centre.

 

The recent demonstrations have brought havoc, forcing the closure of government offices on several occasions and triggering chaos as protesters blocked roads and besieged police headquarters.

 

The South China Morning Post cited unidentified sources as saying about 5,000 riot police would be ready for any trouble.

Beijing-backed leader Lam, who has apologised for the upheaval, has not been seen in public since June 18.

 

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

The turmoil comes at a delicate time for Beijing, which is grappling with a trade dispute with the United States, a faltering economy and tensions in the South China Sea.

 

Lam, in her decision to suspend the bill, said she had heard the people "loud and clear". But she stopped short of activists' demands to scrap the bill altogether, and rejected calls to step down.

 

Activists are also demanding the government drop charges against those arrested during the protests, charge police with what they describe as excessive use of force and stop referring to the demonstrations as a riot, a term that can bring a heavier jail sentence.

But the embattled city government does have support.

 

Thousands of people rallied to back the police on Sunday, in heavy rain and sweltering heat of around 33 Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit).

Some people waved the Chinese national flag. [nL4N24103W]

 

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule on July 1, 1997, under a "one country, two systems" formula that allows freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China, including freedom of protest and a much-cherished independent judiciary.

 

Opponents of the extradition bill see it as a threat to the rule of law and fear it would put them at the mercy of China's justice system where human rights are not guaranteed.

 

The turnout at the handover anniversary rally in 2018 was one of the lowest ever, after the opposition lost steam, with organisers saying about 50,000 people turned up. Police put the number at 9,800.

 

(Additional reporting by Jessie Pang and Felix Tam,; Editing by Robert Birsel)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-01

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[StayinThailand2much]

Saw this interesting pic in an online article by Tagesschau.de about the rally in support of HK police.

Sent from my SM-J415F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Geoffggi]

The police must have been paying for supporters to help them ........

[dunroaming]

I was there at the time of the handover.  Poured with rain as we watched Patten sail away.  Rumours were rife of tanks on the mainland border but as usual it was just bullsh*t.  My girlfriend, who was Hong Kong Chinese, was in tears believing the tales of doom from her family and neighbours.  I was less convinced but decided it was probably time to move just in case.

[Bert got kinky]

5 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

I was there at the time of the handover.  Poured with rain as we watched Patten sail away.  Rumours were rife of tanks on the mainland border but as usual it was just bullsh*t.  My girlfriend, who was Hong Kong Chinese, was in tears believing the tales of doom from her family and neighbours.  I was less convinced but decided it was probably time to move just in case.

 

I was also there, we planned a BBQ on our roof but the rain put a stop to that, it didn't just pour, it was torrential.

 

 

BTW, the Chinese military were already in HK well before the handover.

2 years before the handover I was working the MTR station in Central for the new airport link and one morning we had about 100 mainland Chinese labourers bought in to speed up the project.

They all wore matching green coveralls with orange hats.

Every morning they would do a muster parade and then be marched to their work stations.

Occasionally you would see one of the labourers throwing up a salute for their superiors.

It was denied that they were military but everyone on site knew that they were.

[DrTuner]

HK is screwed unless they pay the price and go for independence.

[bristolboy]

2 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

HK is screwed unless they pay the price and go for independence.

Will you be joining those 8 million brave souls on that suicide mission?

[Traubert]

Opponents of the extradition bill see it as a threat to the rule of law and fear it would put them at the mercy of China's justice system where human rights are not guaranteed.

 

Surely they would have  to got through the much cherished Hong Kong independent judiciary system to be extradited anyway?

 

Anyway, come on NED, show us what you've got this time. You'll fail again but it'll be fun.

[DrTuner]

19 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Will you be joining those 8 million brave souls on that suicide mission?

If I lived in HK, I'd join the melee. Worth it.