Why Hong Kong Is Still Marching

The ace in the hole for Hong Kong is that Beijing wants to unify with Taiwan as well and is promoting their relationship with Hong Kong as a possible model for how that might work. They want to demonstrate to Taiwan that they could reunify and Taiwan could still retain a degree of autonomy.

Beijing agreed to stay hands-off Hong Kong until 2047, but that doesn't necessarily mean the entire judicial, legal and political system in Hong Kong will become null and void overnight. In principle of course Beijing will be able to do whatever they like, but it seems at leas plausible that they will incrementally re-form the system in HK to their liking over time rathe than in one blow. In fact things like the extradition bill, which you can bet was at least reviewed and approved by Beijing if not dictated by them, is an attempt to start that process now through indirect means.

Ideally for Beijing, such indirect means would be the only means necessary even after 20147. Why impose change if you can present it as driven by HK legislators themselves?

Just to be clear, the people cannot vote for the CE - from a limited pool, or otherwise. That was the proposed change in 2014, breaking the previous promise of universal suffrage, but the changes were shelved as a result of the protests, leaving the previous system in place - nominations and selection are still both made by the 1200-member 'election committee' which is widely considered to be a Beijing rubber-stamp group.

> If it became absolutely certain that an overwhelming majority of Texans wanted to secede,

why does it need to be an overwhelming majority (what does that even mean exactly?) and not a simple majority? In case a non overwhelming majority of Texans wanted to secede, should their will be thwarted by a minority of their compatriots? It does not sound very democratic.

You can also say that we are all going to die in < 100 years, let's don't eat/work/play/etc. But of course no body would stop doing things. We should always try to make the best of our lives.

Being one of the protestor out of 2m and feet still hurt after 8 hour walking and stopping among children but mostly young man, let me try to supplement that article why especially those not mentioned in the article.

This related to two most common slogans shouted by the 2m. (The 3rd most common one is “Hong Kong Add Oil” not an issue per sec. )

(a) Withdrawn not suspension

In 2003 the first million protest after handover, a even worst law called article 23 was called for. It was ignored just last jun 9 walk, but later withdraw. There is no million walk into street since.

Hence the precedent is clear. Withdrawn should be done. Instead the administration just do a suspension. I do not know why prof chan used the phrase indefinitely. That is not in chinese. In fact the message that this is suspicion only temporary is clear. Whilst no timetable, the chief executive said her experience of consultation would take until end of this year. Not indefinitely. There is even a statement by the Chinese authority also stressed this temporary arrangement and in fact promise to chase after the behind-the-scene power.

Hence the major slogan of the 2nd protest is to withdrawn the bill not suspension.

(b) No riot and release those arrested

There are the issue of the declaration of riot around 3 or 6 p.m. Lots of people will be charged under this dreadful law where 7-10 years may be involved. Even standby could be charged if you are on site after that time. The law was drafted by the British against the chinese communist in 1960s during the cultural revolution era. Police can declare and arrest any gathering ... funny is that there are exception to this like religion gathering which the police cannot declare as riot. But in general police can declare and do arrest. Some of the cases should be charged as police excess of force, like aim and shoot a protestor from behind when he is a long way and just walking. Now using the law it will be the other way round. The guy might be charged and found guilty as part of riot gathering. (In fact, no one told on the scene that a riot is going on. Nothing throwing, no burning, no glass broken, ... etc. You may see throwing stuff in tv but that is much earlier and another group. The bulk of the peaceful demonstrator are not involved. In fact the official press interview at 3 pm by the commissioner of police is stated as disturbance. There is some argument spent out who declare riot in the press release later at 6 pm. Hence I am not sure about the timing. Just to distance himself, the chief secretary (deputy to the top lady CE) said the top management do not know about the declaration. They do support whatever the commissioner did.)

We asked for the withdrawn of that declaration and release the arrested.

(One of the major upset is to two arrest of patient in Hosiptal. The doctor and nurse do not report the case and somehow the police come and arrest them. ... too many details here but by and large the medical profession seriously not like this. There are procedure and the police did not follow them. Relationship is very poisonous now between the two.)

There are other usual demands like held accountable of the case. And other slogans, some quite nasty as Cantonese is a very nasty language. When 10646 was defined, some found it odd by the hk extension is full of male and female description. Hundreds of them. Sorry for the kids to expose during the 2m match. But that is the language. Can’t no blood wine or poem ...

*

Back to the extradition law, not mention is the public object to it as we do not trust the chinese legal system.

(Btw usually extradition law apply to foreigner not citizen).

Further not mention is the diplomat of Eu, Britain and official from different camps of USA are raised official diplomatic objection. It is not just about local citizen. There are 85,000 American lives in Hong Kong currently. There is no consultation whatsoever. And it seemed the discussion is about reading the bill to them.

In this regards, even strange is the ignorance of Taiwan in the process, even though it was used as the key reason for the rush.

Btw, found out today that even macau our sister region has thought about it and do not enacted similar law.

I think a better law will at least consult stakeholder so majority are on your side. Then you can crush ...

Anyway as commented living between powers like china and USA is not easy. You can access Facebook then not just 20 km north (hong kong is that small). Really not good to unite literally the whole world against you and also your own city wholly against you as well.

As mentioned in the article after the umbrella movement there are a lot of bad blood. But she not just united the democratic camp but even the pro-establishment camp.

Great political achievement in a sense. Too tired and hope it is not too confusing.

Hong Kong Add Oil.