‘Democracy now, Free Hong Kong’: Thousands of protesters urge G20 to back anti-extradition law movement

Jennifer Creery (26 June 2019 21:55)

Thousands gathered at Edinburgh Place on Wednesday 26 evening calling on G20 countries to raise concerns about Hong Kong at the leaders’ summit on Friday, hours after staging a mass march to foreign consulates to lobby country representatives directly.
Crowds wearing all-black spilt out of the public square, many holding signs that read “Free Hong Kong” and “Democracy Now.”

Organisers, the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), issued a statement urging a withdrawal of the government’s suspended extradition bill.
“If you believe in values like democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law like we do, please, we urge all of you to voice out during the G20 summit, and defend our rights together with Hong Kong people,” it read.

The pro-democracy coalition have led millions on marches over recent weeks against the bill, as demands have evolved into calling for universal suffrage ahead of the July 1 pro-democracy rally.

Outside City Hall, Baggio Leung, Tony Chung from Student Localism and activist Joe Yeung called on people to surround police headquarters in Wan Chai after the CHRF protest.

Josephine Ho, a 39-year-old games designer, told HKFP she thinks it is important for foreign governments with business interests in Hong Kong to voice their concerns about the city in the upcoming G20 summit: “Hong Kong is an international city and fundamental rights are very crucial to everyone here,” she said.

Yuen Chang, 50, also told HKFP she has attended the past few anti-extradition bill rallies and welcomes the international attention, saying she hopes G20 countries will speak up on behalf of Hong Kong.
“Even though I’m near the back and I can’t hear much of what [the speakers] are saying, I think it’s still important to come out and show my support,” Chang said. “It is not enough for the government to suspend the bill, they must withdraw it entirely.”

The government proposed legal amendments in February that would enable the chief executive and local courts to handle case-by-case fugitive transfer requests from jurisdictions with no prior agreements, most notably China.
Lawyers, journalists, foreign politicians and businesses have raised concerns over the risk of residents being extradited to the mainland, which lacks human rights protections.
The bill was suspended on June 15, though protesters have called for its complete withdrawal.

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang warned earlier on Wednesday against foreign countries interfering with its international affairs, adding that the government would oppose the topic of Hong Kong’s protests being brought up at the G20 summit.
“China will certainly not agree to G20 discussing Hong Kong affairs. This is entirely China’s internal affair,” he said.

 Thousands of anti-extradition law protesters descend upon Hong Kong police HQ again

27 June 2019 00:00 Tom Grundy

During a mass rally in Central organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, activists Baggio Leung, Tony Chung and Joe Yeung called upon protesters to surround Wan Chai’s police base, in a repeat of scenes from last Friday.
The protesters – many clad in black and facemasks – chanted “Hong Kong police knowingly break the law.”
Others shouted “come down” and “come out,” as they called for an investigation into the use of force during the June 12 protests in Admiralty.
They used barricades and zip ties to block entrances to the police facility.
Others used tape to cover CCTV cameras around the building’s perimeter.
They also used cones and barricades to halt traffic on nearby roads.
A banner reading “Release the righteous [arrested protesters!]” was unfurled on the building’s facade.

Earlier on Wednesday 26^th, thousands gathered in Edinburgh Place, Central urging G20 leaders to back their demands ahead of the leaders’ summit in Osaka, Japan on Friday.
They wielded signs that read “Free Hong Kong” and “Democracy Now.”

The government proposed legal amendments in February that would enable the chief executive and local courts to handle case-by-case fugitive transfer requests from jurisdictions with no prior agreements, most notably China. Critics have raised concerns over the risk of residents being extradited to the mainland, which lacks human rights protections.

Demonstrators are set to rally again on Thursday 27 morning at the justice secretary’s office.