Hong Kong protests

[-:Undertaker:-]

Hong Kong protests

Millions march to protest proposed extradition treaty to mainland China

Alexandra Wong is a dedicated protester who always brings along her British flag, to make a point that she feels Hong Kong was better off under colonial rule. https://t.co/W9uJBbeKlg pic.twitter.com/azCXwHCBSv

— VICE News (@VICENews) June 10, 2019

致敬勇敢的老太！ pic.twitter.com/O1drRfU9Sq

— Freedom flower (@EastwoodGuo) June 12, 2019

Demonstrators in Hong Kong have again blocked key roads and government buildings, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets in response. On the surface, these protests are about plans that would allow extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China. But this is not all happening in a vacuum. There's a lot of important context - some of it stretching back decades - that helps explain what is going on.

It's important to remember that Hong Kong is significantly different from other Chinese cities. To understand this, you need to look at its history. It was a British colony for more than 150 years - part of it, Hong Kong island, was ceded to the UK after a war in 1842. Later, China also leased the rest of Hong Kong - the New Territories - to the British for 99 years. It became a busy trading port, and its economy took off in the 1950s as it became a manufacturing hub.

The territory was also popular with migrants and dissidents fleeing instability, poverty or persecution in mainland China. Then, in the early 1980s, as the deadline for the 99-year-lease approached, Britain and China began talks on the future of Hong Kong - with the communist government in China arguing that all of Hong Kong should be returned to Chinese rule.

The two sides reached a deal in 1984 that would see Hong Kong return to China in 1997, under the principle of "one country, two systems". This meant that while becoming part of one country with China, Hong Kong would enjoy "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" for 50 years.

As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system and borders, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected. For example, it is one of the few places in Chinese territory where people can commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, where the military opened fire on unarmed protesters in Beijing.

Hong Kong still enjoys freedoms not seen on mainland China - but critics say they are on the decline.

Rights groups have accused China of meddling in Hong Kong, citing examples such as legal rulings that have disqualified pro-democracy legislators. They've also been concerned by the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers, and a tycoon who then turned up in custody in China. Artists and writers say they are under increased pressure to self-censor - and a Financial Times journalist was barred from entering Hong Kong after he hosted an event that featured an independence activist.

Many waving the Union Jack as a symbol of their freedom, when it was free until 1997 as a part of the British Empire. That is, until our spineless leaders decided to hand it over to the ghouls in China who run concentration camps and crush people under tanks. For all the tough talk about self-determination and freedom, they really don't believe in any of it which is why Hong Kong was offered on a plate.

Meanwhile our leaders remain silent on this, despite the fact we're supposed to be upholding this agreement. Britain should be organising countries like America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, South Africa and others to punish China for this behaviour.

Inspiring though to see the Union Jack being waved alongside the colonial Hong Kong flag in 2019. Symbols of defiance.

Thoughts?