On Discussing the Hong Kong Protests
The writer of this article, a Wash U student, requests to remain anonymous for safety concerns for his family living in Hong Kong.
Eight months ago, a Google search of Hong Kong brings up articles about Edward Snowden, exotic turtles, and rising costs of living in the city of 7.4 million people. From that point on, a controversial extradition bill sent this bustling economic hub into civil unrest. Protestors took to the streets in the hundreds of thousands, exceeding estimates from the 2014 Umbrella movement protests. Police presence increased in number and intensity as clashes turned violent. By September, the city’s metro system and airport were shut down; metro stations were set on fire, tear gas and rubber bullets exchanged with petrol bombs, and injuries sustained on all sides.
How did one of the economic gems of the Asia-Pacific become embroiled in what analysts have described as a “combat zone”?
To start, I’ll give a little crash course on Hong Kong history.
Hong Kong was previously a British colony, lent in its entirety by China to the United Kingdom in 1898 for 99 years. While British colonization has been looked down upon by the global community for multiple reasons, the role of this European power proved beneficial, especially in aiding Hong Kong’s recovery after Japanese occupation in World War II. As the global economy expanded, Hong Kong became the economic trading hub of eastern Asia; the combination of its vastly developing modern skyline and showcase of traditional culture drew the attention of businesses and tourists, embracing its role as a city of the 21st century.
As the 20th century drew to a close, so did the U.K.’s jurisdiction over Hong Kong, leading to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China. The joint deal between the two countries led to the Hong Kong Basic Law guaranteeing a “One Country, Two Systems” policy for the next fifty years. This means that Hong Kong would keep its government structure and policies until 2047, and China would allow a “high degree of autonomy” for the region.
The fact that the protests were not mentioned during the October Democratic Debate may as well atone to the limited room for discussion on their stage.
However, the handover gave Beijing the responsibility of interpreting the Basic Law, which Hong Kong advocates have argued has kept the city from certain conditions of the Basic Law, including universal suffrage. The Legislative Council, the region’s acting legislative body, and the Chief Executive, the head of government, are elected through closed elections by other representative bodies. The government proposed a reform for the Chief Executive elections that allowed for universal suffrage, but the candidates for elected positions are still vetted by Beijing. This election procedure sparked the Umbrella Movement in 2014, where protesters held mass rallies to convince the Legislative Council to reject the proposed reform.
The political atmosphere in Hong Kong sparked alive again at the end of March, where the government proposed a bill that would allow arrested individuals to be extradited to a different court in China on a case-by-case basis. This bill was meant to fix an apparent loophole in the judicial system; the case highlighting the issue included a Taiwanese man admitting to killing his girlfriend, but the Hong Kong court could not process the case because the crime was committed in Taiwan, which was outside the court’s legal jurisdiction.
Hong Kongers were deeply concerned by the bill because it meant that individuals may be transferred to mainland China to stand trial under a different legal system. Protestors of the extradition bill reached into the hundreds of thousands during March and April, requesting the withdrawal of the bill. When Chief Executive Carrie Lam voiced the government’s intent not to retract the bill, the protests grew in number and intensity. By June, a rally of over one million protestors lined the streets of Hong Kong Island, occupying government complexes in Admiralty, the financial hub in Central, and the shopping district in Causeway Bay. At this point, the protests have grown beyond the removal of the extradition bill, as pro-democracy activists coordinated efforts to call for universal suffrage and free elections.
When we are open to sharing these opinions, there is space for discussion; we learn more about the perspectives of the issue and become informed global citizens.
Beijing criticized the local government and police for its relatively lax reaction to the growing protests, leading the police force to increase its efforts to dispel unauthorized rallies; this is when the violence escalated. Multiple hot spots formed across the region as pro-democracy protestors clashed with both the Hong Kong Police and pro-Beijing counter-protestors. The August protests incited more violence and vandalism, as protesters targeted government buildings and the city’s metro system (MTR) with petrol bombs. Protestors were able to occupy the international airport and shut it down, barricading entrances and voicing their “five demands” for Hong Kong:
- Withdrawal of the Extradition Bill
- A commission to inquire alleged police brutality
- Retracting the declaration of protestors as “rioters”
- Amnesty for arrested protestors
- Universal suffrage for both Legislative Council and Chief Executive Elections
While the first demand was met in September when Chief Executive Lam formally withdrew the bill, the situation between protestors, the police, and the government has reached a persisting standstill. The government attempted to discourage protestors from assembling early October by passing an emergency ban on face masks, activating a colonial-era executive privilege that outraged members of the city. Currently, over two thousand protestors have been arrested and over two thousand protest-related injuries were reported. Just recently, a group of unidentified individuals attacked Jimmy Sham, one of the leaders of the pro-democracy movement, sending him to the hospital.
The violence and police presence have become the norm for Hong Kongers. The often-bustling designer-brand stores in Causeway Bay now close early on nights and weekends to avoid damage. To put into perspective, Causeway Bay is similar to New York’s Fifth Avenue or Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, an icon of Hong Kong tourism and night-life. Local businesses have been especially hurt by the ongoing protests with sales dropping by as much as one-half over the summer. Chinese commerce buildings and businesses originating from mainland China were also the target of protestors. The damage inflicted on MTR stations have impacted the nearly five million passengers who use the MTR daily.
In response to the violence, the police have employed several controversial tactics, including using water cannons with blue dye to mark protestors and storming occupied MTR stations. Several officers have also gone undercover, dressed in the same black clothing before arresting unsuspecting protestors. At this point these thoughts are speculative, but the tension among these groups makes any claim about either side extremely sensitive.
The effects of the protests are not limited to the Asia Pacific.
On October 4th, the NBA found itself under pressure after the Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted an image of the slogan “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong,” which protesters have been using during their demonstrations. Beijing immediately began cutting ties with the basketball organization and requested the firing of Morey. China is the NBA’s second-largest market, so the organization took steps to amend the situation, angering fans. LeBron James took some heat from fellow players and fans when he defended the organization and suggested that Morey should have received a consequence.
The moment we stop listening to each other and let animosity take over, that space for discussion is gone.
On October 5th, Blizzard Entertainment, known for developing games like Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, suspended a professional Hearthstone player for voicing support for the Hong Kong protests during a stream. Two weeks later, three more players were banned under the same pretense. In the following weeks, Apple and Google both pulled apps from their app stores that supported the protests.
One of the most disturbing stories I have found is the incidence of tension and threats on college campuses. Universities in the US and UK have reported incidents of threats toward students supporting or condemning the protests. Many student authors on campuses faced backlash and hateful comments, a consequence I anticipate for this very article. People have different views of the protests in Hong Kong, and through reasoning and evidence one can justifiably argue on either side. Supporters of the protests have a case for the excessive use of force by police and the determination to demand rights underlined by the Basic Law. Non-supporters have a case for police trying to limit the violence affecting non-protestors and damage to infrastructure and businesses. When we are open to sharing these opinions, there is space for discussion; we learn more about the perspectives of the issue and become informed global citizens. This is a privilege that institutions, corporations, and governments may not have. Corporations are often tied to their bottom lines, which can be affected by large target markets. In the case of the NBA, where China is their second-largest market, the space to discuss is deflated. Governments have similar issues due to the large network of international relations and agreements often sensitive to ongoing political issues. With the current U.S.- China trade situation, politicians may face scrutiny over pressing on the Hong Kong situation. The fact that the protests were not mentioned during the October Democratic Debate may as well atone to the limited room for discussion on their stage.
We, as university students, have the opportunity to form our own perspective of the problem and have the chance to learn from those around us. Disagreeing and listening are important parts of part of learning. Yet, the moment we stop listening to each other and let animosity take over, that space for discussion is gone. At that point, we are in no better position than the corporations and political bodies being criticized for their stances.
The Hong Kong Protests are not an easy topic to talk about, and sharing viewpoints can sometimes be uncomfortable. While it is cliché, being respectful to those not sharing their opinions as well as those who do share is a big step towards fostering our inclusive community.
Photo provided by Studio Incendo on Flickr, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License