Hong Kong and China’s governments are threatening the fundamental rights of the city, said organization Human Rights Watch on Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of the anti-government movement that began last summer.
“For the past year, Hong Kong people have made clear their peaceful demands for freedom and autonomy,” said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. “But the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong choose to respond with ever-greater repression and violence.”
Months of political protests began last year on June 9, when an estimated one million people took to the streets to denounce a controversial, now-withdrawn extradition bill. The proposed legislation would allow authorities to transfer criminal suspects to China, a move that triggered concern among many in Hong Kong who see the legal system there to be notoriously opaque.
1/ Tomorrow will be the first anniversary of our anti-extradition bill movement since June. Over the past year, Hongkongers and the world have been bearing witness to the deteriorating situation in Hong Kong, with Beijing tightening its grip over the city’s liberties. pic.twitter.com/q5VDIIjscP
— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 😷 (@joshuawongcf) June 8, 2020
In the months of sometimes violent demonstrations that followed, activists and protesters accused the Hong Kong Police Force of using excessive force to disperse crowds. Clashes at protests often ended with officers unleashing rounds of tear gas and pepper spray, as well as beating protesters with batons. Police officers even fired live ammunition on a number of occasions.
Many have also criticized the police force for carrying out indiscriminate arrests. Since June last year, authorities have arrested nearly 9,000 protesters, but only around 1,700—fewer than 20%—have been prosecuted.
The rights group added that a looming national security law that Beijing is enforcing on Hong Kong could have “wide-ranging impact” on the city. Critics say the imposition of the law, which can be enacted in the territory without deliberation among Hong Kong lawmakers, undermines the country’s “one country, two systems.” The law was approved by Beijing’s top legislature at the end of May.
News that Beijing would be tailor-making such a law for Hong Kong has re-ignited protests, which largely halted in January due to the local outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent public health restrictions.
Despite a ban on gatherings larger than eight remaining in place till June 18, netizens are calling on each other to gather for a protest on Hong Kong island this evening to mark the anniversary of the social movement.
“I have strong confidence in Hongkongers that we will have ways to resist and defy. Moreover, I hope the world can stand with Hong Kong and protect the city from falling,” activist Joshua Wong tweeted.
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