Hong Kong Protest Still Ongoing

Hong+Kong+riot+police+attempt+to+disperse+the+protesters+during+the+Tsuen+Wan+March+on+Aug.+25.

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Hong Kong riot police attempt to disperse the protesters during the Tsuen Wan March on Aug. 25.

Aaron Sha, Features Editor

Protests in Hong Kong against the proposal of a law that promotes extradition to mainland China by the local government are showing no signs of stopping despite being ongoing since late March despite the statement of withdrawal of the bill made by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Sept. 4.

The extradition bill would allow the Chinese government to arrest or abduct individuals in Hong Kong who they believe have committed a crime, according to the New York Times.

The protests began as peaceful but quickly turned violent in the past few months as protesters met with the Hong Kong police force, who employed crowd-dispersing weapons such as tear gas, according to BBC News.

Thousands of protestors stormed the Hong Kong airport on Aug. 12, cancelling almost 200 flights following clashes with the police that resulted in various injuries, including wounded riot police and a partially blinded female protester, according to CNN.

“My family in Hong Kong can’t do anything,” senior Treviour Lee said. “They have to go to work and then come right back home because it’s not safe on the streets anymore.”

Lam formally announced the decision to withdraw the controversial bill on Sept. 4 as an attempt to ease protesting and rioting. However, the protests did not die down as protesters have long since demanded democratic representation, such as introducing free elections and independent inquiry of the police, in addition to the withdrawal of the bill. As of now, the future of Hong Kong remains unclear.