Tuesday, June 11, 2019

On the eve of still more scheduled Hong Kong protests

A message from 2014 that's still valid in 2019

 Sadly, the Hong Kong government's actions -- and that of its 
police force -- are prompting people to ask this question even now 

This past Sunday, over one million people took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest a controversial extradition bill that would allow the Communist Chinese regime to officially be able to get its hands on many people it decided were criminal (even while they were not so under current Hong Kong law -- like the booksellers who were abducted by them back in 2015).  If Hong Kong were a genuine democracy (and its official leaders consequently accountable to the people), this would get the Hong Kong government to think twice about ramming through this bill, if not downright abandon trying to get it passed.

Instead, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (aka 777) reiterated her determination to press on with getting this clearly unpopular bill passed the day after this mega-sized protest in which approximately one in seven Hong Kongers took part.  And the Hong Kong police has continued its unlawful ways this evening by seeking to stop and search people in MTR stations, including journalists, and even establishments like a branch of McDonald's across from the Government Headquarters, and cars passing by that area; prompting the likes of the Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong to Tweet about how the Hong Kong government is seriously underestimating the reputational damage that its police force's misconduct has incurred, and that will be very difficult to repair regardless of whether the proposed Extradition bill gets passed or not.

Rather than be cowed by these actions, however, many Hong Kongers have become more defiant in their wake.  This can be seen by an exceedingly rare occurence scheduled to take place tomorrow in this city whose people have long been stereotyped as caring about making money far more than politics: strike action by a variety of businesses and organizations, including over 100 commercial art galleries and other arts organizations, along with other forms of protest, such as a work-to-rule action by bus captains and -- yes, really -- picnics by the government offices.

Already, late this evening, many people have assembled outside the government headquarters to make their presence felt -- and protest evident.  I dearly hope that no violence breaks out -- and strongly suspect that if it does, it will be (largely) the fault of the police.  So, more than any one else, I hope that they will keep calm for the love of Hong Kong. Otherwise, by tomorrow morning, many of us will be asking, with serious justification, "Where has my dream city gone?" :S

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