On Monday 1 July, protesters in Hong Kong broke into and outraged the parliament building, in an increase of weeks of protests. Tussels had broken out near the Legislative Council as a ceremony was held to mark the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover back to China from British rule. On the face, these protests are about plans that would permit extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China. It is noteworthy to remember that Hong Kong is significantly different from other Chinese cities. It was a British colony for more than 150 years and a portion of it, Hong Kong Island, was surrendered to the UK after a war in 1842. In the beginning 1980s, as the deadline for the 99-year-lease approached, Britain and China began talks on the destiny of Hong Kong through the communist government in China debating that all of Hong Kong should be returned to Chinese rule. The two sides reached a deal in 1984 that would observe Hong Kong return to China in 1997, under the principle of “one country, two systems”. This intended that while becoming part of one country with China, Hong Kong would relish a large degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs for 50 years. Hong Kong still appreciates freedoms not seen on mainland China.
There has also been a rise in anti-mainland Chinese sentiment in Hong Kong in recent years, with people complaining about rude tourists disregarding local norms or driving up the cost of living. Some young activists have even called for Hong Kong’s independence from China, something that frightens the Chinese government. Protesters feel the extradition bill, if passed, would bring the territory nearer under China’s control. Qian, a spokesman for China’s defence ministry, resounded state media reports by saying the destruction of the central government liaison office in Hong Kong after weeks of large protests against the city’s extradition bill was a dispute to the base line of the principle of “one country, two systems”.
China is closely following the developments in Hong Kong, particularly the furious attack against the central government liaison office by mischievous elements on July 21, Wu said at a briefing to introduce China’s new defence white paper. Some behaviour of the rebel protesters is troubling the authority of the central government and the bottom line of one country, two systems. This is really unbearable. It is worried about meddling in Hong Kong affairs by foreign and external forces, and is utilising the existence of the PLA in the city to indicate that it could play a vital role, in accordance with the laws. Lau said anti-government protesters should prevent attacking the facilities of the central government’s liaison office and the PLA garrison. The liaison office director Wang Zhimin criticized the demonstrators’ actions. They have destroyed the feeling of the rule of law in Hong Kong and seriously hurt the feelings of all Chinese people, including 7 million people of Hong Kong. Some lawmakers in Hong Kong said after unrest that the liaison office represented a sign of Beijing’s sovereignty over Hong Kong, and that the protesters’ actions had violated the national constitution, destroyed Hong Kong’s social order and harmed its people’s interests. Hong Kong belongs to China, and China does not allow any foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying did not tell reporters in a briefing Nor will we allow any foreign forces to ruin Hong Kong We advise the US to withdraw its dirty hands from Hong Kong as soon as possible. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Monday. As to the so-called ‘attack’ in Hong Kong, our attitude is very clear. We resist all unlawful, wild behaviors and the central government always supports the Hong Kong police in handling relevant situation in accordance with law. This position is consistent.
There are about 1.4 billion people in China. Chinese government wants to safeguard Hong Kong’s security, permanence and hapiness, they have the capacity to do so. China banged the US and Britain for meddling in Hong Kong political affairs. China will not allow any foreign forces intervening in Hong Kong affairs, nor will it allow any foreign forces to break Hong Kong. China advised the United States to take back their criminal activities in Hong Kong as soon as possible. China had pledged to respect the territory’s freedoms in the semi-autonomous territory after its handover from Britain in 1997.The present developments are by no means problems linked to freedom of speech and assembly. It is a problem of extreme unlawful violence. It not only directly influences the legal foundation of Hong Kong but also really challenges the fundamental line of the ‘One country, Two systems’ policy. Hong Kong enjoys liberties not observed on the mainland including freedom of speech, unrestrained way to the internet and an independent judiciary.
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce has continued that a recent speed of violence could weaken the city’s international image and raise worries about its commitment to the rule of law. The trade group criticized the unrest from a tiny number of radicals as awful while pushing the government to resolve the conflict by engaging in public dialogue and officially withdrawing the extradition bill which activated the political crisis. The incident by a small number of radicals at the end of the peaceful demonstrations has shocked society. The HKGCC proposed the government enlarge the range of public consultation, ensure that future demonstrations are peaceful, accept responsibility for poor management of the crisis, and set up an independent inquiry into the clash.