For those who may not already know, the current protests in Hong Kong were sparked because the government of Hong Kong proposed a bill that would allow local authorities to detain and extradite people who are wanted in territories that Hong Kong does not have extradition agreements with, including mainland China and Taiwan. Hong Kongers fear that the bill would undermine the autonomy of the region and citizens' rights.
Demonstrations against the bill began in March and April, but escalated in June. Here's a timeline of the more intense parts.
June 9: Hundreds of thousands of people marched in protests of the bill.
June 12: On the day the bill was scheduled to a second reading in the Legislative Council, protests marked a sharp escalation in violence. Riot police employed tear gas and rubber bullets against demonstrators. Subsequently, investigations into police behaviour and greater accountability for their actions became part of protestor demands.
June 16: A larger march occurred.
July 1st: Hundreds of thousands of people participated in the annual July marches. A portion of these demonstrators split from the march and broke into the Legislative Council Complex, vandalising central government symbols.
July 9: Chief Executive Carrie Lam said it was "dead". BUT she did not say the bill would be fully withdrawn.
July 19: Executive Council members Regina Ip and Bernard Charnwut Chan said that the government does not intend to make further concessions.
July 22: Protests continued through the summer, escalating into increasingly violent confrontations between police, activists, pro-Beijing triad members, and local residents in over 20 different neighbourhoods throughout the region.
As demonstrations continue, protestors are calling for an independent inquiry on police brutality, the release of arrested protesters, a retraction of the official characterisation of the protests as "riots", and direct elections to choose Legislative Council members and the Chief Executive. As if more oil had to be poured on the fire, the Chinese are getting troops on the ready for any eventuality.
What is even worse is that the confrontation between pro-Hong Kong people and pro-Beijing nationalists has spilled beyond Chinese borders. In Australia, for instance:
Pro-Hong Kong rallies see tensions boil over in Melbourne and Adelaide
Derogatory and sexist insults, and threats to the safety of the pro-Hong Kong protesters. When I read stuff like this, I really wonder when Western countries and Australia will start taking a stronger stand against those so-called Chinese "students". Considering that it has already happened a few days ago, safe to say that enough is enough. It's really time to revoke student visas and to deport those pro-Beijing leeches who are abusing a little too much of their hosts' hospitality.
And to finish, Carrie Lam is a ****ing Muppet.