https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ho...-idUKKCN1TA05THONG KONG (Reuters) - Several hundred thousand people jammed Hong Kong’s streets on Sunday in the biggest rally for years to thwart a proposed extradition law that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China to face trial.
Organisers said their initial estimates put the turnout at well over half a million people, saying it outstripped a demonstration in 2003 when 500,000 hit the streets to challenge government plans for tighter national security laws.
Those laws were later shelved and a key government official forced to resign. Sunday’s outpouring was widely expected to raise the pressure on the administration of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her official backers in Beijing.
Lam had yet to comment on the rally, which followed weeks of domestic discontent growing official concern from the U.S., European Union and foreign business lobbies that the changes would dent Hong Kong’s vaunted rule of law and freedoms. The former British colony was handed back to Chinese rule in 1997 amid guarantees of autonomy and various freedoms including a separate legal system, which many diplomats and business leaders believe is the city’s strongest remaining asset.
The unusually broad opposition to the rendition bill displayed on Sunday came amid a series of government moves to deepen links between southern mainland China and Hong Kong.
Live: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...owdown-against
It's good to see Hongkongers protesting again - for a while it appeared that they were ready to keel over and accept Beijing's dominance. It's probably unlikely that this protest will change anything in the long run - perhaps this extradition bill will be shelved like the national security laws - but if this continues one side will surely have to relent. Considering Xi Jinping's increased ambition and authoritarianism I am not sure Beijing will keep letting this 'insolence' slide. What are your thoughts? Is this a significant moment or will things continue as they have been? Will Beijing take more drastic measures?