Hong Kong Protest and Covid 19
Hong Kong Protest is closely related to Covid 19. The Covid 19 outbreak in China shortly after the HK Protest and Hong Kong government restricted protests to prevent the spread of Covid 19. Let's look HK protest and Covid 19.
Background of HK Protest
Direct Cause is...
The Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Bill 2019 was first proposed by the government of Hong Kong in February 2019 in response to the 2018 murder of Poon Hiu-wing by her boyfriend Chan Tong-kai in Taiwan, where the two Hong Kong residents were visiting as tourists. As there is no extradition treaty with Taiwan (because the government of China does not recognise its sovereignty), the Hong Kong government proposed an amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance to establish a mechanism for case-by-case transfers of fugitives.
Underlying causes are...
The 2019–20 Hong Kong protests came four and a half years after the Umbrella Revolution of 2014 which begun after the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) regarding proposed reforms to the Hong Kong electoral system, which were largely seen as restrictive. However, the movement ended in failure as the government offered no concessions. Since then, democratic development has stalled: only half of the seats in the Legislative Council remain directly elected, and the chief executive of Hong Kong continues to be elected by the small-circle Election Committee. The 2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists further dashed the city's hope of meaningful political reform. Citizens began to fear the loss of the "high degree of autonomy" as provided for in the Hong Kong Basic Law, as the government of the People's Republic of China appeared to be increasingly and overtly interfering with Hong Kong's affairs.
Scandals and corruption in China shook people's confidence of the country's political systems; the Moral and National Education controversy in 2012 and the Express Rail Link project connecting Hong Kong with mainland cities and the subsequent co-location agreement proved highly controversial. Citizens saw these policies as Beijing's decision to strengthen its hold over Hong Kong. By 2019, almost no Hong Kong youth identified themselves as Chinese.
Anti-Mainland sentiment had begun to swell in the 2010s. The daily quota of 150 immigrants from China since 1997, and the massive flows of mainland visitors strained Hong Kong's public services and eroded local culture; mainlanders' arrogance drew the scorn of Hongkongers. Economic factors were also cited as an underlying cause of anger among Hongkongers.
Timeline of HK Protest
2019
February – Hong Kong’s Security Bureau proposes amendments to extradition laws that would allow extraditions to mainland China and other countries not covered by existing treaties.
March 31 - Thousands take to the streets to protest against the proposed extradition bill.
April 3 - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s government introduces amendments to the extradition laws that would allow criminal suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial.
April 28 – Tens of thousands march on Hong Kong’s Legislative Council to demand the scrapping of the proposed amendments.
May 11 – Scuffles break out in the legislature between pro-democracy lawmakers and those loyal to Beijing.
May 30 – Concessions to the extradition bill are introduced but critics say they are not enough.
June 6 – More than 3,000 Hong Kong lawyers dressed in black take part in a rare protest march.
June 9 - More than half a million people take to the streets.
June 12 – Police fire rubber bullets and tear gas during the city’s largest and most violent protests in decades. Government offices are shut.
June 15 – Lam indefinitely delays extradition law.
July 1 - Protesters storm the Legislative Council on the 22nd anniversary of the handover from British to Chinese rule, destroying pictures and daubing walls with graffiti.
July 9 - Lam says the extradition bill is dead and that government work on it had been a “total failure”.
July 21 - Men in white T-shirts, some armed with poles, storm a train at rural Yuen Long station, attacking passengers and passersby, after several thousand activists surrounded China’s representative office. The pivotal attack triggers a massive backlash against the police, who were accused of being slow to respond.
July 30 - Forty-four activists are charged with rioting, the first time the charge has been used during the protests.
Aug. 9 - China’s aviation regulator demands Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific suspend personnel who have taken part in the protests. The airline suspends a pilot, one of the 44 charged, the next day.
Aug. 14 - Police and protesters clash at Hong Kong’s international airport after flights were disrupted.
Aug. 21 - Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce company, delays its Hong Kong listing of up to $15 billion.
Sept. 2 - Lam says she has caused “unforgivable havoc” and would quit if she had a choice, according to a recording of remarks to business people.
Sept. 4 - Lam announces the extradition bill will be withdrawn. Critics say it is too little, too late.
Sept. 17 - Lam pledges to hold talks with the community to try to ease tensions.
Sept. 26 - Protesters trap Lam in a stadium for hours after her first “open dialogue”.
Oct. 1 - City rocked by the most widespread unrest since the protests began as China’s Communist Party rulers celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic. Police shoot an 18-year-old protester in the shoulder.
Oct. 4 - Lam invokes colonial-era emergency powers to ban face masks, sparking violent protests. A police officer shoots a 14-year-old boy in the thigh.
Oct. 16 - Lam abandons her policy speech amid lawmakers’ jeers. Prominent rights activist Jimmy Sham is beaten by four men wielding hammers and knives.
Oct. 23 - Extradition bill is withdrawn.
Oct. 29 - Authorities disqualify pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from standing in upcoming district elections.
Oct. 31 - Preliminary data shows Hong Kong slid into recession for the first time in a decade in the third quarter.
Nov. 2 - Protesters vandalise China’s official Xinhua news agency, smashing doors, setting fires and throwing paint.
Nov. 3 - A man with a knife bites off part of a politician’s ear and slashes several people after a shopping mall rally turns into a conflict with police.
Nov. 4 - University student Chow Tsz-lok, 22, falls from the third to the second floor of a parking lot as police disperse protesters.
Nov. 6 - A knife-wielding man attacks pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho.
Nov. 8 - Chow dies, the first student death during the protests.
Nov. 11 - Police fire live rounds at protesters on the eastern side of Hong Kong island, one person wounded.
Nov. 17-29 - Protracted, at-times fiery siege at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as police surround campus after students and activists barricaded themselves inside. More than 1,100 mostly young activists arrested in what was widely seen as the police’s first major success against the movement.
2020
Jan. 1 - A march drawing tens of thousands on New Year’s Day spirals into chaos as police fire several rounds of tear gas and water cannon at crowds, including families, before halting event.
April 17 - Beijing’s top representative office in Hong Kong says it is not bound by a law restricting interference by mainland Chinese bodies, stoking concerns over China’s encroachment.
April 18 - Police arrest 15 activists, including Democratic Party founder Martin Lee, 81, and millionaire publishing tycoon Jimmy Lai, 71, in the biggest crackdown on the pro-democracy movement since protests escalated in June.
May 8 - Rival lawmakers scuffle in the legislature over electing the chairman of a key committee.
May 21 - Beijing says it is moving to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong, following the often violent anti-government unrest last year.
May 24 - Police fire tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands as protests over the national security laws pick up with the easing of coronavirus curbs on gathering.
May 27 - Riot police fire pepper pellets as protesters rally in the heart of the business district amid demonstrations over the national security laws and a bill that would criminalise disrespect of China’s national anthem.
May 28 - China’s parliament overwhelmingly approves imposing national security legislation on Hong Kong to tackle secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference.
May 28 - President Donald Trump orders his administration to begin the process of eliminating special U.S. treatment for Hong Kong, but stops short of calling an immediate end to privileges that have helped the territory remain a global financial centre.
And it is still going on but I think halted. (Related: https://thediplomat.com/2020/04/hong-kongs-protests-amid-covid-19-a-dying-movement-or-a-halted-war)
Timeline of HK Covid 19
It seems related with crowd, gathering of people. So HK Protest and HK Covid 19 related closely.
It seem increased in early of April, Summer and now.
Retail & Recreation still going down.
And we can see it's lower but it is getting recover.
And I think there are increased un-employee and working from home.
Summary
Still we can't say anything about Covid 19, about Hong Kong Protests. Anyway both are related closely and sometimes government can use it. But we can have covid 19 vaccine soon and we will be free from Covid 19.
I totally understand why they doing HK Protests. Just for free, justice and fair. They worry and do not trust their gov. - China.
As above, Young Hong Kongers are increasingly unlikely to identify as 'Chinese'. They want to freedom and do not want to belong to China. So the protests are going on and spread widely. And China will try to more because it is very important to China as they are consist from many different culture - Tibet, Yghur and etc. China afraid losing Hong Kong because it could be effect on Tibet, Yghur.
Wish Hong Kongers and Chinese find answer soon with peace!
World is getting close and moving fast. Also in China. I totally understand HKers. Let's wait and see. I believe Chinese can make wise decide.
Sometimes people can't change the organization but the game is not finished. World is always rolling with people and we can make better!
