Protestors block Hong Kong Police Headquarters

Thousands of people in Hong Kong have surrounded police headquarters, calling for an extradition bill to be scrapped.

Police have asked the protesters to withdraw peacefully, saying their presence would “seriously affect” emergency services.

Millions of people have marched against the bill in recent weeks, with violent clashes breaking out with police.

The bill, which allows extradition to mainland China, has already been suspended.

Critics say it would erode the judicial independence of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has been part of China since 1997 under the “one country, two systems” principle, which allows it freedoms not seen in mainland China.

The protest comes a day after the government ignored a deadline set by a group of students from various universities in Hong Kong, who called for the bill to be completely scrapped.

Early on Friday people gathered outside the Legislative Council Complex, or government headquarters, but then moved to surround police headquarters.

Among the protesters was student activist Joshua Wong, who became the face of pro-democracy protests in 2014. He was freed earlier this week after being jailed in May on contempt charges related to the 2014 demonstrations.

In a tweet on Friday, Mr Wong called for police to drop charges against people arrested in the recent protests.

Later in the day, some protesters also moved to Hong Kong’s Revenue Tower. The Labour Department said several services based in the building would be suspended for the afternoon.

It is telling that many protesters have now dropped Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s resignation from their list of demands – focusing instead on a complete withdrawal of the bill, revoking the term “riot” to describe the 12 June protests, releasing all detained activists, and investigating police violence.

One 20-year-old protester, June, had snuck out to the protests despite her parents disapproval.

She said she didn’t think it was realistic to expect Carrie Lam to resign, but “I really hope they release injured protesters and investigate their actions”.

So far, there haven’t been any violent clashes – some protesters threw eggs, but nothing harder, at uniformed police officers, while there were no riot police at the scene, perhaps in an attempt to defuse tensions.

But the anger at the police was palpable as people chanted “evil police” and “release them”, and attempted to block some entrances with steel barriers.

What is the extradition bill?

The mass protests are against amendments to the extradition law that would allow suspects accused of criminal wrongdoing to be extradited to mainland China.

This is significant because though Hong Kong is part of China, it keeps its own judicial independence, legislature and economic system.

People fear that if the extradition bill passes, it would erode this judicial independence and bring Hong Kong more decisively under China’s control.

Critics of the bill, including lawyers and rights groups, also say it leaves people in Hong Kong exposed to China’s justice system, which is marred by allegations of torture, forced confessions and arbitrary detentions.

China has backed Ms Lam and the extradition bill throughout the unrest.

What has the government said?

Initially, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam remained defiant, saying the government had no intention of withdrawing the bill, despite widespread opposition.

But in the face of mounting protests, and after violent clashes, she announced that the bill would be suspended and gave a public apology.

She said the bill would not be revived until people’s fears were addressed, and that it was “very unlikely” the government could pass the bill before the current legislative session expired next year.

Why are people still angry?

Ms Lam’s latest move has done little to pacify the people, though the number of protesters coming out on the streets has dropped dramatically in recent days.

Protesters want the bill to be completely scrapped, with no possibility that it might pass again in future after the protests have dissipated.

They previously called for Carrie Lam, who is backed by Beijing, to step down.

But after the violent clashes between police and protesters on 12 June, an investigation into police brutality has also become part of the demands.

The protest saw riot police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters, leading to some of the worst violence the territory has seen in decades.

It led to rights group Human Rights Watch accusing the police of using “excessive force” against protesters.

Amnesty International highlighted 14 instances of “unnecessary and excessive” force by police on 12 June, in what it called “violations of international law.”

Some 72 people aged between 15 and 66 were injured in the violence, including two men who were in critical condition and some 21 police officers.

Many on Friday were heard chanting “shame on police thugs” outside police headquarters.

A total of 32 protesters were arrested, five of whom have been charged with rioting offences. Eight protesters have been released – but people are demanding police release the rest of them.

 

Source: BBC