Thread by @modernhomesla

Hong Kong Extradition Bill

Tear gas envelops heart of city
as protestors flood downtown
Hong Kong
in protest of China's
extradition bill,
which presented city’s leaders
w ultimatum:
back down, or risk violent clashes.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

So, wat's the reason?🤔

4 protesters, extradition law
represents line in sand:
dramatic undercutting
of local autonomy
that will end Hong Kong’s status
as a safe haven
4 dissidents fleeing mainland.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Marchers well-organized + coordinated,
dropping umbrellas from overhead walkway
2 provide protection from police + rain
4 those in streets below.
Others tied metal barricades together
2 ward off any potential police advancement.

Demonstrations R largest since
so-called Umbrella Movement
occupied part of city center +
creating a stand-off 4
> 2 months in 2014.

Then, fierce responses
from police incl firing tear gas
at mostly student protesters,
who held up yellow umbrellas
4 protection.

This week’s protests differ from 2014’s in important ways.

The Umbrella Movement
called 4 granting right,
*universal suffrage*,
Hong Kong’s citizens have never had,
while opponents believe
extradition law threatens 2
take away status as safe haven
from Beijing, long enjoyed

Although part of China,
mainland guarantees
former British colony:
free speech, capitalist markets + English common law
under “one country, two systems’’ framework.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Hong Kong’s govt,
led by Chief Exec, Carrie Lam,
says it has no intention of giving in
2 protesters’ key demand:
scrapping proposed law
that would allow criminal suspects
2B extradited 2 mainland China,
among other places.

Backing down could antagonize
China’s president, Xi Jinping,
who’s seeking 2 bring Hong Kong
N2 greater alignment w mainland.
It could also send
what the Chinese govt might see as
highly dangerous message 2
Hong Kong’s people: protest still works.👈
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

As day went on,
protests spread from
vicinity of Legislative Council building,
in city’s Admiralty section
+ N2 financial dist,
where 100s of int'l cos have local offices.
Organizers say they plan 2
remain in sts until govt relents.

“Persist, Hong Kongers! Fight On!’’

There also R signs
protest may spread N2
economy as a whole.

Aviation workers, a teachers’ union, student assocs
+ Confederation of Trade Unions,
a pro-democracy labor group,
have called 4 lrg-scale strike.

If the bill gets to a vote,
it’s highly likely 2 pass:
pro-Beijing legislators
enjoy comfortable majority
in legislature,
where many of seats R held by
representatives of business
+ professional groups.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

🔥Hong Kong’s independent legal system
is foundation of its distinctive status,
a legacy of British rule
that has prompted almost 1,400 multinationals
2 set up regional headquarters in city.

Preserving independent system, 👈
along w other elements
of Hong Kong’s autonomy,
was at the heart of
1997 handover agreement 👈
between U.K. + mainland China.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Vast majority of protesters,
appear 2B ordinary Hong Kongers:
teachers, office workers, retirees + students,
many wearied by what they view as
yrs-long campaign 2 undermine
city’s autonomy.

4 some of them,
this wk’s demonstrations
R being treated as something of
a last stand.

Hong Kong's govt has backed down B4:
Nat'l Security Bill - 2003
Patriotic Bill - 2012

But, nothing since 2013
under Xi Jinping
*took office.

[ Bo Xilai should have become president.
Xi used swarmy tactics: sex scandal, kompromat
2 dissuade public. ]
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

ICYMI

11-11-13
#BoXilai Timeline:

Bo Xilai,
former Communist Party chief in Chongqing,
was once seen as high-flyer
tipped for top office.
But he has been expelled from:
Party, parliament + is 2 face prosecution.

bbc.com/news/world-asi…

Bo Xilai's wife,
Gu Kailai
given suspended death sent
4 murder of U.K. businessman,
Neil Heywood.

All orchestrated by
Xi Xinping,
in order 2 grab power.

People of China
supported Bo.
Bo became too much threat 2 Xi.

Xi had 2 use
mob tactics
2 extort.
bbc.com/news/uk-176909…

How *kind of Xi.

12-14-15
China suspends death sentence
4 Gu Kailai,wife of Bo Xilai
4 2012 murder of British businessman
Neil Heywood.👈

📌Bo was sentenced 2 life in prison 4
corruption + abuse of power
in 1 of China’s biggest political scandals.

time.com/4147323/gu-kai…

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