Demosistō

Is the Pro-Beijing Camp Delaying Voting on the Extradition Bill An Attempt at Political Distraction?

Hong Kong LegCo president Andrew Leung announced earlier this afternoon that voting on the proposed extradition bill will be delayed until Thursday of next week. It is possible that delaying the vote on the bill is an attempt to reduce the intensity of protests, as a smokescreen or distraction, or even as a feint for a push to rapidly pass the bill. On the other hand, it is possible that splits, or at least the appearance of splits, are appearing in the pro-Beijing camp...

Plans for Protest Actions Coalesce Around Calls for a General Strike in Hong Kong Tomorrow

Plans for protest actions against the extradition bill in Hong Kong are coalescing around the notion of a general strike tomorrow, when the bill is scheduled to undergo its second reading in the Legislative Council (LegCo) and be voted upon. Bills which clear voting after the second reading in LegCo usually also undergo a third reading the same day, passing into law afterward...

Quiet Day in Hong Kong Following Clashes, but Uncertainties Remain About What Is to Come

It was a quiet day in Hong Kong today after Sunday’s protests against the Beijing-backed extradition law ended with demonstrators being cleared from around the area by the Legislative Council. Much remains up in the air about what will take place in coming days regarding the extradition law, including that it remains ambiguous as to what form protest in the coming days against the bill will take, if this takes place at all ...

Visit by Han Kuo-Yu to Beijing Liaison Office Prompts Criticism from Hong Kong, Taiwan Politicians

A visit by Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu to Hong Kong has provoked outrage from both Taiwan and Hong Kong politicians. Han is accused of infringing upon both Hong Kong and Taiwan’s sovereignty in directly meeting with Wang Zhimin, the director of Hong Kong’s Beijing Liaison Office, which represents the Chinese government in Hong Kong...

Protests in Hong Kong Against New Law Criminalizing “Disrespect” of the Chinese National Anthem

Protests have broken out in Hong Kong over a new law that which would mandate the singing of the Chinese national anthem at official events, such as before sporting events or for the swearing-in ceremonies for lawmakers. The law would also criminalize disrespect to the Chinese national anthem, stipulating maximum penalties of 50,000 HKD, up to three years in prison, and with a three year limit for penalization rather than the usual six months for similar crimes...

Arrest Of Umbrella Movement Activists Is A Another Sign Of Political Repression

The arrest of leading Umbrella Movement figure Joshua Wong in Hong Kong, alongside other Umbrella Movement activists, probably surprises few. In particular, while Wong is currently out on bail from a six month jail sentence related to the Umbrella Movement, Wong was sent back to jail on a second set of charges, regarding Wong being held responsible for failing to comply with a police order to clear the Mong Kok encampment in Mong Kok...

10,000 March Against Chinese Influence In Hong Kong On New Year’s Day

10,000 marched in Hong Kong on New Year’s Day in order to demonstrate against the continued erosion of democratic freedoms in Hong Kong, marking that while the democracy movement may have had a tough year, protests will still continue in Hong Kong. The protest included an encirclement of police headquarters and clashes after the crowd attempted to enter Civic Square, the site of high-profile occupations during the Umbrella Movement. At least three were injured, including two police officers...