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112-690: China Global Television Network ( CGTN ) is one of three branches of state-run China Media Group and the international division of China Central Television (CCTV). Headquartered in Beijing , CGTN broadcasts news in multiple languages. CGTN is under the control of the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party . Several media regulators and journalist advocacy groups have accused CGTN of broadcasting propaganda and disinformation on behalf of

224-609: A Press Gazette investigation found that CGTN purchased ads on Facebook that denied any mistreatment of Uyghurs and promoted Xinjiang internment camps as "vocational training centres." In a 2022 research paper comparing RT and CGTN's coverage of the 2020 United States presidential election , Martin Moore and Thomas Colley of King's College London described CGTN as using a "surface neutrality" propaganda model, noting that it "avoid[ed] expressing partisanship or framing US politics in an unduly biased or subjective way" in its coverage of

336-421: A "dichotomous role as a credible media competing for audience attention on the world stage, and a vital government propaganda organ domestically." According to James Palmer at Foreign Policy , the contrasting aims of RT (formerly Russia Today) and CGTN, "mirrors wider strategies: Moscow wants chaos it can exploit, while Beijing wants a stable world order—on its terms". While "RT doesn't mind whether it goes to

448-692: A Chinese mainlander who had reportedly knifed three other people outside Cityplaza . Meanwhile, pro-Beijing lawmaker Junius Ho was stabbed and his parents' grave was desecrated. The 2019 Yuen Long attack occurred following a mass protest organised by the CHRF on 21 July. Suspected gangsters vowed that they would "defend" their "homeland" and warned all anti-extradition bill protesters not to set foot in Yuen Long. The perpetrators attacked people on Fung Yau Street North in Yuen Long before entering Yuen Long station, where they indiscriminately attacked commuters in

560-597: A consistent record of blatantly and egregiously violating journalistic standards and encouraging or justifying hatred and violence against innocent people." In July 2021, BBC News reported that CGTN initiated a drive to use foreign vloggers, such as Raz Gal-Or and Lee and Oli Barrett , as stringers to denounce negative coverage of Xinjiang . The use of these individuals prevents YouTube from labelling their content as state-sponsored content, although their videos are promoted by state media accounts. Australian cybersecurity researcher Robert Potter from Internet 2.0 said there

672-491: A decade of overseas expansion, the redoubling of efforts by CGTN, and to an extension other state media, to push the party's theories and principles abroad is at odds with boosting China's overseas image. CGTN, along with other Chinese state media outlets, is still widely regarded as "editorially biased and full of propaganda, and they still struggle to attract large audiences", particularly in the age of widespread internet use with social media and nontraditional forms of media where

784-675: A foreign organization through her mobile phone. In April 2020, the non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders criticized CGTN for engaging in disinformation regarding COVID-19 . The United States Department of State described CGTN's output on COVID-19 as part of a wider government-led disinformation campaign. In April 2021, the European External Action Service published a report that cited Chinese state media outlets, including CGTN, as spreading disinformation to present Western vaccines as unsafe. In March 2021, an investigation by Le Monde claimed that

896-470: A head injury which he had sustained the previous day during a confrontation between two groups of anti-government protesters and residents in Sheung Shui . For the first time, during a standoff on 11 November, police shot numerous rounds of tear gas, sponge grenades and rubber bullets into the campuses of universities, while protesters threw bricks and petrol bombs in response. Student protesters from

1008-585: A landslide, with the pro-Beijing camp suffering their greatest electoral defeat in Hong Kong's history. The unprecedented electoral success of the pro-democracy voters, the mass arrests during the PolyU siege, and faster response by police contributed to a decrease in the intensity and frequency of the protests in December 2019 and January 2020. Despite this, the CHRF organised two marches to maintain pressure on

1120-407: A mechanism for case-by-case transfers of fugitives, on the order of the chief executive, to any jurisdiction with which the territory lacks a formal extradition treaty. The inclusion of mainland China in the amendment was of concern to Hong Kong society; citizens, academics and the legal profession fear the removal of the separation of the region's jurisdiction from the legal system administered by

1232-421: A national security bill for Hong Kong. By mid-2020, the Hong Kong government had declared the restoration of peace and stability with the imposition of the national security law . More than a hundred people, including several prominent activists, have been arrested since the imposition of the law. The resulting political atmosphere, along with the crackdown on civil society, sparked a wave of mass emigration from

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1344-426: A personal apology on 18 June, she dismissed calls for her resignation. The CHRF claimed a record turnout of 550,000 for their annual march on 1 July 2019 , while police estimated around 190,000 at the peak; an independent polling organisation estimated attendance at 260,000. The protest was largely peaceful. At night, partly angered by several more suicides since 15 June 2019, some radical protesters stormed into

1456-399: A political awakening to some, but its failure and the subsequent split within the pro-democratic bloc prompted a re-evaluation of strategy and tactics. In the years that followed, a general consensus emerged that peaceful protests were ineffective in advancing democratic development, and became an example of what not to do in further protests. Media noted that protests in 2019 were driven by

1568-409: A rallying point for the movement and his anti-extradition slogans later became the foundations for the "five demands" of the protests, and his yellow raincoat became one of the symbols of the protests. A protest on the following day had almost 2 million people participating according to an CHRF estimate, while the police estimated that there were 338,000 demonstrators at its peak. While Lam offered

1680-427: A sense of desperation rather than the optimism of 2014. The aims of the protests had evolved from withdrawing the bill, solidifying around achieving the level of freedom and liberties promised. Initially, protesters demanded only the withdrawal of the extradition bill. Following an escalation in the severity of policing tactics on 12 June 2019, the protesters' objective was to achieve the following five demands (under

1792-557: A series of demonstrations against the Hong Kong government 's introduction of a bill to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance in regard to extradition. It was the largest series of demonstrations in the history of Hong Kong . The protests began with a sit-in at the government headquarters on 15 March 2019 and a demonstration attended by hundreds of thousands on 9 June 2019, followed by a gathering outside

1904-589: A speedboat on 23 August. Detained in Yantian , Shenzhen , they were subsequently charged with crossing the Chinese border illegally and were prevented from choosing their lawyers and meeting their families. As protest activities dwindled, the government continued to tighten its control in Hong Kong, censoring school textbooks and removing any mention of the Tiananmen massacre , arresting organisers of vigils for

2016-626: A statement, Ofcom said: We have given CGTN significant time to come into compliance with the statutory rules. Those efforts have now been exhausted. Following careful consideration, taking account of all the facts and the broadcaster’s and audience's rights to freedom of expression, we have decided it is appropriate to revoke the licence for CGTN to broadcast in the UK. We expect to conclude separate sanctions proceedings against CGTN for due impartiality and fairness and privacy breaches shortly. In what CNN Business characterised as "an apparent tit-for-tat move",

2128-531: A supposed French journalist for CGTN named "Laurène Beaumond" was a fabricated identity. Le Figaro disputed this, saying "Beaumond" was a real French journalist from Sarthe , but had been publishing for CGTN under a pseudonym . Le Figaro said they had interviewed "Beaumond", under the condition that her true identity be kept secret. In May 2021, Israel's embassy in Beijing accused CGTN of "blatant antisemitism " when it said that "powerful lobbies" of Jews and

2240-987: A taxi driver who drove into a crowd of protesters in Sham Shui Po on 8 October, were attacked. A middle-aged man was doused with flammable liquid and set on fire by a protester after he had an altercation with protesters at Ma On Shan station on 11 November. On 14 November, an elderly man died from head injuries sustained earlier during a violent confrontation between two groups of protesters and Sheung Shui residents. The protests have been described as being largely "leaderless". Protesters commonly used LIHKG , an online forum similar to Reddit , as well as Telegram , an optionally end-to-end encrypted messaging service to communicate and brainstorm ideas for protests and to make collective decisions. Unlike previous protests, those of 2019 spread over 20 different neighbourhoods. Protesters and their supporters remained anonymous to avoid prosecutions or future potential retaliation from

2352-482: A week, Cheng had filed a complaint with Ofcom. On 8 March 2021, CGTN was fined a total of £225,000 by Ofcom for serious breaches of fairness, privacy and impartiality rules. "We found the individuals ( Simon Cheng and Gui Minhai ) concerned were unfairly treated and had their privacy unwarrantably infringed," Ofcom said, adding that the broadcaster had "failed to obtain their informed consent to be interviewed." It concluded that "material facts which cast serious doubt on

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2464-642: The Financial Times titled "Hong Kong's 'water revolution' spins out of control". A reference to martial artist Bruce Lee 's fighting advice to "be [like] water", the name Water Revolution subsequently gained popularity among protesters. The Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 was first proposed by the government of Hong Kong in February 2019 in response to

2576-573: The 2019 Yuen Long attack and brutality in 2019 Prince Edward station attack further escalated the protests. Chief Executive Carrie Lam withdrew the bill on 4 September, but refused to concede to the other four demands. A month later, she invoked emergency powers to implement an anti-mask law , escalating the confrontations. The storming of the Legislative Council in July 2019, deaths of Chow Tsz-lok and Luo Changqing , one of whom

2688-485: The Airport Authority to cancel numerous flights. On 23 August, an estimated 210,000 people participated in the " Hong Kong Way " campaign to draw attention to the movement's five demands . The chain extended across the top of Lion Rock . On 25 August , six police officers raised their guns and one fired a warning shot into the air in a confrontation with protesters, the first use of live ammunition during

2800-639: The BBC ." In December 2022, he said that the government "wanted CGTN to be regarded as a credible source of information, like Al Jazeera", but described the idea as "something of a fantasy". He added: " Qatar is a small state, and it has significant foreign policy on a few certain issues. But outside of those issues, Qatar has basically left its Al Jazeera reporters alone. China was never going to be able to do that because virtually any issue could have an impact on China." Critics have accused CGTN of broadcasting misinformation and making false allegations against opponents of

2912-575: The BN(O) passport in Hong Kong can resettle in the UK along with their dependents for five years before they become eligible to apply for permanent citizenship. Invigorated by its success in the November 2019 District Council election, the pro-democratic bloc was eyeing to win over half of the 70 seats in the Legislative Council in the election set to be held on 6 September. Unfazed by the national security law, more than 600,000 people cast their votes in

3024-489: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would erode the " one country, two systems " principle in practice since the 1997 handover; furthermore, Hong Kong citizens lack confidence in China's judiciary system and human rights protection due to its history of suppressing political dissent. Opponents of the bill urged the Hong Kong government to explore other mechanisms, such as an extradition arrangement solely with Taiwan, and to sunset

3136-734: The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) confronted the police for two consecutive days. After the conflict, protesters briefly occupied several universities. A major conflict between protesters and police took place in Hung Hom on 17 November after protesters took control of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and blockaded the Cross-Harbour Tunnel. Thus began the siege of PolyU by police which ended with them storming onto

3248-614: The Council of Europe , including the United Kingdom. In August 2021, Ofcom levied additional fines on CGTN's UK license holder, Star China Media, for breaches of rules around fairness and privacy. The channel announced later in the month that the channel has returned to the UK by launching on Freeview . Ofcom later claimed the channel uses the Vision TV Network , an internet-based datacasting service. In March 2021,

3360-586: The Government of the People's Republic of China announced that China Central Television, China National Radio, and China Radio International were to be unified to become the China Media Group after the first session of the 13th National People's Congress . That same day, Shen Haixiong , was officially named President of China Media Group. During the 2018 party and government reform in China, CMG

3472-589: The Legislative Council Complex on 12 June which stalled the bill's second reading. On 16 June, just one day after the Hong Kong government suspended the bill, a larger protest took place to push for its complete withdrawal. The protest was also in response to the perceived excessive use of force by the Hong Kong Police Force on 12 June. As the protests progressed, activists laid out five key demands . Police inaction during

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3584-538: The Moral and National Education controversy in 2012, the Express Rail Link project connecting Hong Kong with mainland cities and the subsequent co-location agreement proved highly controversial . Citizens saw these policies as Beijing's decision to strengthen its hold over Hong Kong. By 2019, almost no Hong Kong youth identified only as Chinese. The Umbrella Revolution provided inspiration and brought about

3696-725: The NPCSC saw fit to rule on the disqualification of six lawmakers ; fears over state-sanctioned rendition and extrajudicial detention were sparked by the Causeway Bay Books disappearances . Xi Jinping 's accession to General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party , the top position of paramount leader in 2012 marked a more hardline authoritarian approach, most notably with the construction of Xinjiang internment camps . The spectre that Hong Kong may similarly be brought to heel became an important element in

3808-727: The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) would begin drafting a new law that covers "secession, foreign interference, terrorism and subversion against the central government", to be added into the Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law. This meant that the law would come into effect through promulgation , bypassing local legislation. Despite international pressure, the NPCSC passed

3920-615: The United States and the United Kingdom , calling for their support. Efforts were made to transform the protests into a long-lasting movement. Protesters have advocated a " Yellow Economic Circle ". Supporters of the protesters labelled different establishments based on their political stance and chose to patronise only in businesses which are sympathetic to the movement, while boycotting businesses supporting or owned by mainland Chinese interests. Flash rallies were held in

4032-678: The discharge of radioactive water of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant , which critics labeled part of a concerted disinformation campaign. In 2018, the United States Department of Justice directed CGTN America , the U.S. division of CGTN, to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). CGTN America said in its FARA filings on 1 February 2019 that it disagreed with

4144-531: The "be water" strategy, inspired by Bruce Lee 's philosophy, often moving in a fluid and agile fashion to confound and confuse the police. They often retreated when police arrived, only to re-emerge elsewhere. In addition, protesters adopted black bloc tactics to protect their identities. Frontliners' "full gear" consisted of umbrellas, face masks, hard hats and respirators to shield themselves from projectiles and teargas. Furthermore, protesters used laser pointers to distract police officers and interfere with

4256-477: The "influence of wealthy Jews" in the United States were responsible for America's pro-Israel position during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis . A week after the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel , CGTN journalist Stephanie Freid visited Sderot and reported that during a shootout at the local police station, "Hamas fighters and their police captives were apparently killed when Israeli forces opened fire on

4368-567: The 2018 murder of Poon Hiu-wing by her boyfriend Chan Tong-kai in Taiwan, which the two Hongkongers were visiting as tourists. As there is no extradition treaty with Taiwan (because the government of China does not recognise Taiwan's sovereignty ), the Hong Kong government proposed an amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance ( Cap. 503 ) and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance ( Cap. 525 ) to establish

4480-621: The Australian television network SBS suspended the English and Mandarin broadcasts of CGTN and CCTV respectively, which were broadcast on SBS as part of its World Watch program, over human rights complaints concerning the airings of "forced confessions." CGTN responded that CCTV has signed a cooperation agreement with SBS to broadcast some of CCTV's Chinese programs for free in 2006, but CGTN did not authorize SBS to broadcast its English programs. China Media Group On 21 March 2018,

4592-553: The Bills Committee. With the possibility of a second reading of the bill, the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) launched their third protest march on 9 June. While police estimated attendance at the march on Hong Kong Island at 270,000, the organisers claimed that 1.03 million people had attended the rally, a number unprecedently high for the city. Carrie Lam insisted second reading and debate over

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4704-553: The British journalist Peter Humphrey . The first was staged in August 2013, and was filmed by a CCTV crew with Humphrey locked in an iron chair inside a steel cage, wearing handcuffs and an orange prison vest. This was before he had been indicted, tried or convicted of a crime. The second, in July 2014, was once again filmed by CCTV, not in a cage this time, but still in a prison vest and handcuffs, before he had been tried or convicted on

4816-587: The Chinese Communist Party. In the subsequent FARA filing with the U.S. Department of Justice dated February 2, 2019, Ms. Ma Jing wrote that CGTN maintained editorial independence free from the state's influence and functioned similarly to other news media. A month later, in early March 2019, she was summoned to return to China. On 18 September 2019, Nick Pollard , a British TV executive, resigned from his post as consultant and advisor to CGTN, giving his reason for leaving as being CGTN's failure to comply with Ofcom's rules on impartiality in connection to its coverage of

4928-905: The Chinese government banned the BBC World News TV channel from airing in China on 11 February. Given that BBC World News could only be received in so-called foreign compounds (such as internationally owned hotels) in mainland China in the first place, it was unclear what impact, if any, this ban would have. Following the license revocation, CGTN no longer had permission to broadcast in Germany, due to its German license being approved by Ofcom, but it resumed broadcasting via Vodafone Germany in March 2021. CGTN later sought and received agreement from French regulatory authorities to broadcast in France, which would allow them to broadcast in member states of

5040-458: The Chinese government, and airing forced confessions . CGTN grew out of CCTV's all-English channel, known as CCTV-9 or CCTV International, launched in 2000 and renamed CCTV News in 2010. Channels in other languages were launched during the mid and late 2000s. In December 2016, the six non-Chinese language television channels under CCTV International were rebranded to bear the CGTN name. In 2018, CGTN

5152-423: The Chinese government. The network has been investigated and censured by Britain's Ofcom for biased coverage of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests and the airing of forced confessions. CGTN has been characterized as a vehicle for government propaganda and disinformation campaigns by Reporters Without Borders , BBC , and other sources. Despite its revamp launching of CCTV America, critics have voiced concerns over

5264-541: The Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests. He had joined CGTN in December 2018. Ofcom had several inquiries into CGTN going on in September 2019. In March 2021, CGTN was fined £225,000 by Ofcom for bias in its coverage of the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, which was found to have repeatedly breached fairness and impartiality requirements. A September 2019 article in The Diplomat stated that CGTN "has

5376-474: The Justice Department's decision, but registered nonetheless. In 2020, the United States Department of State designated CGTN and its parent company, CCTV, as foreign missions . On 4 February 2021, Star China Media (the UK broadcast license holder for CGTN) had its broadcast license revoked by UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom . Ofcom found that Star had no editorial oversight over the channel it

5488-526: The Legislative Council ; police took little action to stop them. After 1 July 2019, protests spread to different neighbourhoods in Hong Kong. CHRF held another anti-extradition protest on 21 July on Hong Kong Island. Instead of dispersing, protesters headed for the Liaison Office in Sai Ying Pun , where they defaced the Chinese national emblem. While a standoff between the protesters and

5600-590: The MTR system. Protests and citywide flash rallies persisted throughout the month. Protesters clashed with the police late at night on 3 November 2019. Alex Chow Tsz-lok , a 22-year-old student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), was later found unconscious on the second floor of the estate's car park. He died on 8 November following two unsuccessful brain surgeries. After his death, protesters engaged in flash rallies against

5712-511: The People's Republic of China . An 18-year-old protester named Tsang Chi-kin was shot in the chest by police in Tsuen Wan after charging towards a riot policeman. He was later charged with rioting and assaulting officers, arrested in July 2022 trying to flee to Taiwan after two years of hiding, and appeared in court in April 2023. He was sentenced on 18 October 2023 to 3.5 years in prison for

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5824-645: The US congressional hearing for the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act . To increase the political pressure on China, they also advocated for the suspension of the United States–Hong Kong Policy Act , which grants Hong Kong's special status. Advertisements on the protesters' cause were financed by crowdfunding and placed in major international newspapers. At events, protesters waved the national flags of other countries, such as

5936-576: The arrangement immediately after the surrender of the suspect. After the failure of the Umbrella Revolution in 2014 and the 2017 imprisonment of Hong Kong democracy activists , citizens began to fear the loss of the "high degree of autonomy" as provided for in the Hong Kong Basic Law , as the government of the People's Republic of China appeared to be increasingly and overtly interfering with Hong Kong's affairs. Notably,

6048-600: The attack had not been indiscriminate, changing the officially reported police response time, and arresting Lam Cheuk-ting , a pro-democracy lawmaker who was hurt in the attack, for "rioting". Civil society faced a crackdown by authorities, which triggered a massive exodus from Hong Kong . Pro-democracy activists and lawmakers were among the first to leave the territory; the first wave of emigres also included young professionals, as well as families whose parents wanted to have their children be schooled with emphasis on independent critical thinking. More than 89,000 Hongkongers left

6160-402: The attackers. Amidst frustration that police had failed to prosecute pro-government violent counter-protesters and being increasingly distrustful of police because of this, hard-core protesters began to carry out vigilante attacks —described by protesters as "settling matters privately"—targeting individuals perceived to be foes. Pro-Beijing actress Celine Ma , plainclothed officers, and

6272-418: The authorities, employers who had a different political orientation, and corporations which kowtowed to political pressure. For the most part there were two groups of protesters, namely the "peaceful, rational and non-violent" protesters and the "fighters" group. Nonetheless, despite differences in methods, both groups refrained from denouncing or criticising the other and provided tacit support. The principle

6384-412: The average viewer overseas". Yip also noted the growing disillusionment of journalists in China who "are allowed to do little more than parrot the official line", citing a viral video of a journalist rolling her eyes at another reporter's softball question during a ministerial press conference, which "seemed to speak for many in the country who are tired of the charade that local media has become". Despite

6496-561: The bill be resumed on 12 June. Protesters successfully stopped the LegCo from resuming second reading of the bill by surrounding the LegCo Complex. Police Commissioner Stephen Lo declared the clashes a "riot" but on 17 June said that he had merely meant protesters who had displayed violent behaviour. Police were criticised for using excessive force at the clashes, such as firing tear gas at protesters at an approved rally. Following

6608-406: The bloc's historic first primaries in mid July 2020. The Hong Kong government then disqualified twelve candidates on 30 July, nearly all of whom were winners from the pro-democratic primaries. The decision drew international condemnation for obstructing the election and the democratic process. On the following day, Carrie Lam, going against the public opinion, invoked emergency powers to delay

6720-411: The campus and arresting several protesters and volunteer medics in the early morning of 18 November. On March 11, 2023, 20 people were jailed for up to 64 months over riot near besieged PolyU campus in 2019. The 24 November 2019 District Council election , considered a referendum on the government and the protests, attracted a record high voter turnout . The results saw the pro-democracy camp win by

6832-404: The central business districts as office workers used their lunch break to march on the street. The protests prompted various professions to set up labour unions that compete with pro-Beijing lobbies to pressure the government further. Newly elected District Council members put forward motions to condemn the police and used their power to assist the detained protesters. Radical protesters adopted

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6944-562: The charge of illegal information gathering. Both were aired in the UK by CGTN. On 23 November 2018, Humphrey filed a complaint to Ofcom against CCTV, citing violations of the United Kingdom Broadcasting Code's Fairness and Privacy provisions. Humphrey said that both confessions were scripted and directed by the Chinese police, the public security bureau , while he was a prisoner, in conditions of duress amounting to torture . On 6 July 2020, Ofcom ruled that CGTN

7056-450: The city in a year after the national security law was imposed, and the city witnessed a record 1.2% drop in population. Schools were shrinking as parents feared "brainwashing" "patriotic" education be implemented, and tens of thousands applied for British National (Overseas) visas after the UK government unveiled a new immigration path for passport holders. Clashes between protesters and counter-protesters had become more frequent since

7168-516: The city. The approval ratings of the government and the police plunged to their lowest points since the 1997 handover . The Central People's Government alleged that foreign powers were instigating the conflict, although the protests have been largely described as "leaderless". The United States passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act on 27 November 2019 in response to the movement. The tactics and methods used in Hong Kong inspired other protests that followed worldwide. In Hong Kong,

7280-590: The clashes, protesters began calling for an independent inquiry into police brutality; they also urged the government to retract the "riot" characterisation. On 15 June, Carrie Lam announced the bill's suspension but did not fully withdraw it. The same day, Marco Leung Ling-kit , a 35-year-old man, fell to his death after slipping on scaffolding and plunging 17 metres to his death whilst protesting Lam's decision and claims of police brutality. Ruled by an inquest jury in May 2021 as "death by misadventure", this accident formed

7392-822: The concourse and on the platform, as well as inside train compartments, resulting in a widespread backlash from the community. The Department of Justice has since been criticised by some lawyers for making "politically motivated" prosecutions. After the Yuen Long attack, no assailant was charged for weeks after the event, while young protesters were charged with rioting within several days. Protesters were also attacked with fireworks in Tin Shui Wai on 31 July, and then attacked by knife-wielding men in Tsuen Wan and suspected "Fujianese" gang members wielding long poles in North Point on 5 August, though they fought back against

7504-399: The controversial use of violence and intimidation. They dug up paving bricks and threw them at police; others used petrol bombs, corrosive liquid and other projectiles against police. As a result of clashes, there were multiple reports of police injuries and the assault of officers throughout the protests. One officer was slashed in the neck with a box cutter , and a media liaison officer

7616-432: The election , citing the pandemic as the reason. While the NPCSC allowed the four disqualified incumbent lawmakers to transition to the extended term in July, they decided to remove them from office in November 2020, resulting in the mass resignation of all of opposition lawmakers . The police continued to use the law to target local activists and critics of Beijing, including business tycoon Jimmy Lai . In January 2021,

7728-424: The election, but it "dropp[ed] its objective tone in favour of being enthusiastically pro-China, without exception" in its coverage of geopolitical issues affecting China, and that CGTN did not publish content that was critical of or embarrassing to the Chinese government. They added: "Unlike RT, it frequently frames issues (such as the revelations about Trump's taxes ) through the prism of the Chinese interest—even if

7840-423: The far-left or the far-right," Chinese state media is permitted to "act from a very narrow, officially approved scope, and the risk of the political extremes is too much," according to journalist Hilton Yip. On the contrary to CGTN's investments in studios and numerous overseas bureaus, "the actual content is a mix of brutally tedious propaganda and bland documentaries. The audience is always the bosses in Beijing, not

7952-459: The formal withdrawal of the extradition bill once Legco reconvened in October and the introduction of additional measures to calm the situation. However, protests continued to push for the realisation of all five demands. On 1 October 2019, mass protests and violent conflict occurred between the protesters and police in various districts of Hong Kong during the 70th anniversary of the founding of

8064-584: The government by vandalising government and pro-Beijing lawmakers' offices, and defacing symbols representing China. The MTR Corporation became a target of vandalism after protesters had accused the railway operator of kowtowing to pressure by Chinese media by closing several stations and not releasing the CCTV footage from the 2019 Prince Edward station incident amid fears that police may have beaten someone to death. Protesters also disrupted traffic by setting up roadblocks, damaging traffic lights , deflating

8176-575: The government on 8 December 2019 and 1 January 2020. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mainland China and subsequent escalation of the COVID-19 crisis in February and March 2020 caused the number of large-scale rallies to dwindle further because of fears that they might facilitate the spread of the virus. Despite this, the pro-democratic movement's tactics were repurposed to pressure

8288-494: The government to take stronger actions to safeguard public health in the face of the pandemic's outbreak in Hong Kong . Police used COVID-19 laws banning groups of more than four, for example, to disperse protesters. On 18 April, police arrested 15 pro-democracy activists including Jimmy Lai , Martin Lee and Margaret Ng for their activities in 2019, drawing international condemnation. On 21 May 2020, state media announced that

8400-486: The high-profile campaign for the 2016 New Territories East by-election by activist Edward Leung . Fewer and fewer young people in Hong Kong identified themselves as Chinese nationals, as found by pollsters at the University of Hong Kong . The younger respondents were, the more distrustful they were of the Chinese government. Scandals and corruption in China shook people's confidence of the country's political systems;

8512-786: The introduction of the national security law. The US Congress passed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act and president Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to revoke the city's special trade status after Mike Pompeo informed the Congress that Hong Kong was no longer autonomous from China and so should be considered the same country in trade and other such matters. On 7 August , the US announced that they would impose sanctions on eleven Hong Kong and Chinese top officials, including Carrie Lam , for undermining Hong Kong's freedom and autonomy. The British Home Office announced that starting from early 2021, current and former holders of

8624-438: The issues have no direct bearing on China. These characteristics contravene journalistic norms of independence from government and impartiality". Moore and Colley noted in another paper that during the election, "[CGTN] presented the US as poorly governed, plutocratic, racist and a destabilising international influence, and China as well governed, benign, stable, and as a rising superpower." CCTV broadcast two forced confessions of

8736-415: The level of censorship exercised by the channel, especially on sensitive domestic issues in China. Philip Cunningham of Cornell University, who has appeared more than 100 times on CCTV talk shows, noted that sensitive issues such as Tibet and Xinjiang were heavily edited on various programs. Ma Jing, Director of CCTV America, defended the channel against such allegations by saying that the channel edits stories

8848-612: The movement began in June 2019. During a pro-police rally on 30 June, their supporters began directing profanities at their opposition counterparts and destroyed their Lennon Wall and the memorial for Marco Leung , leading to intense confrontations between the two camps. Pro-Beijing citizens, wearing "I love HK police" T-shirts and waving the Chinese national flag, assaulted people perceived to be protesters on 14 September in Fortress Hill . Lennon Walls became sites of conflict between

8960-448: The name Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement or Anti-Extradition Bill Movement ( Chinese : 反對逃犯條例修訂草案運動／反修例運動 ) is often used to refer to the protests as a whole, including demonstrations after the suspension of the bill. The name 2019 Hong Kong protests is sometimes used as there is no generally agreed upon end date to the protests. On 27 October 2019, Politico editor-in-chief Jamil Anderlini published an article in

9072-410: The national security law unanimously on 30 June, without informing the public and the local officials of the content of the law. The law created a chilling effect in the city. Demosistō , which had been involved in lobbying for other nations' support, and several pro-independence groups announced that they had decided to disband and cease all operations, fearing that they would be the targets of

9184-548: The new law. Thousands of protesters showed up on 1 July to protest against the newly implemented law. On that day, the police arrested at least ten people for "breaching national security" for displaying protest art . Following the implementation of the national security law, the international community reassessed their policies towards China. Major countries in the West (Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, Germany and New Zealand) suspended their extradition treaties with Hong Kong over

9296-455: The one-country, two systems principle) would destabilise mainland China's economy, and therefore, undermine the rule of the CCP and give Hong Kong a chance to be "reborn" in the future. They believed that further government crackdown would ultimately speed up the process of lam chau , ultimately hurting the regime. Doxing and cyberbullying were tactics used by both supporters and opponents of

9408-422: The operation of their cameras. At protest scenes, protesters used hand gestures for nonverbal communication, and supplies were delivered via human chains. Different protesters adopted different roles. Some were " scouts " who shared real-time updates whenever they spotted the police, A mobile app was developed to allow crowdsourcing the location of police. Starting in August 2019, radical protesters escalated

9520-579: The police arrested more than 50 individuals , all of whom were connected to the primaries for "subverting state power". This meant that most of the active and prominent politicians in the opposite camp in Hong Kong have been arrested by the authorities using the national security law. Arrest warrants were issued to exiled activists for breaching the national security law, including former lawmakers Nathan Law , Baggio Leung and Ted Hui . Twelve Hong Kong activists who were released on bail were captured by China's Coast Guard Bureau while fleeing to Taiwan on

9632-568: The police and attended vigils in various districts of Hong Kong. They blamed the police for his death, though the police denied any involvement. In response to Chow's death, protesters planned a city-wide strike starting on 11 November by disrupting transport in the morning in various districts of Hong Kong. That morning, a policeman fired live rounds in Sai Wan Ho , in response to an unarmed 21 year-old attempting to swat his gun aside. On 14 November, an elderly man named Luo Changqing died from

9744-516: The police and turned a lot of citizens who were politically neutral or apathetic against the police. A call for a general strike on 5 August was answered by about 350,000 people according to the Confederation of Trade Unions ; over 200 flights had to be cancelled. Various incidents involving alleged police brutality on 11 August prompted protesters to stage a three-day sit-in at Hong Kong International Airport from 12 to 14 August, forcing

9856-438: The police occurred on Hong Kong Island, groups of white-clad individuals, suspected to be triad members, appeared and indiscriminately attacked people inside Yuen Long station . Police were absent during the attacks, and the local police stations were shuttered, leading to suspicion that the attack was coordinated with police. The attack was often seen as the turning point for the movement, as it crippled people's confidence in

9968-461: The protest created protest art and derivative works . Social media platforms were used to deliver information about the protests to raise awareness to users abroad and circulate images of police brutality. Protesters held "civil press conferences" to counter press conferences by police and the government. AirDrop was used to broadcast anti-extradition bill information to the public and mainland tourists. A protest anthem, " Glory to Hong Kong ",

10080-499: The protests and their employees have been assaulted in suspected politically motivated attacks and their businesses vandalised. Some civilians rammed their cars into crowds of protesters or the barricades they set up. In one instance, a female protester suffered severe thigh fractures. Protest organisers, including Jimmy Sham from the CHRF, and pro-democratic lawmakers such as Roy Kwong were assaulted and attacked. On 3 November, politician Andrew Chiu had his ear bitten off by

10192-589: The protests. Ignoring a police ban, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong Island on 31 August following the arrests of high-profile pro-democracy activists and lawmakers the previous day. At night, the Special Tactical Squad (officially known as the Special Tactical Contingent) stormed Prince Edward station , where they beat and pepper-sprayed the commuters inside. On 4 September, Carrie Lam announced

10304-475: The protests. Anti-mainland sentiment had begun to swell in the 2010s. The daily quota of 150 immigrants from China since 1997, and the massive flows of mainland visitors strained Hong Kong's public services and eroded local culture; mainlanders' perceived arrogance drew the scorn of Hongkongers. The rise of localism and the pro-independence movement after the Umbrella Revolution was marked by

10416-458: The protests. Some protesters used these tactics on police officers and their families and uploaded their personal information online. More than 1,000 officers' personal details had been reportedly leaked online, and nine individuals had been arrested. Protest leaders have been attacked after being doxed and intimidated. HK Leaks, an anonymous website based in Russia, and promoted by groups linked to

10528-545: The public has become "more averse to clumsy state-run propaganda than ever". In his 2022 book Beijing's Global Media Offensive: China's Uneven Campaign to Influence Asia and the World , journalist Joshua Kurlantzick wrote that CGTN "tried to build itself a presence that could rival other global broadcasters like Al Jazeera , RT, the Turkish global broadcaster TRT World , and, the Chinese government hopes, giants like CNN and

10640-575: The reliability of their alleged confessions" had been left out of the programmes, which aired pre-trial "confessions" of the two men while they were being detained. Ofcom said it was considering further sanctions. In August 2020, Australian CGTN television anchor Cheng Lei was detained by Chinese authorities on national security grounds but no details of accusations were provided. On October 11, 2023, Australia government announced Cheng returned to Australia. China's Ministry of State Security said that Cheng provided state secrets she gathered from her work to

10752-408: The same way other news organizations do. She said: "We uphold the traditional journalistic values. We consider accuracy, objectivity, truthfulness, and public accountability very important, more important than anything else." In December 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice determined that CGTN must register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) as an agent for the Chinese government and

10864-474: The slogan "Five demands, not one less"): After several protests in March and April 2019, the anti-extradition issue attracted more attention when pro-democratic lawmakers in the Legislative Council launched a filibuster campaign against the bill. In response, the Secretary of Security John Lee announced that the government would resume second reading of the bill in full council on 12 June 2019, bypassing

10976-502: The station with a tank." CGTN's report was cited by Republika , Tribunnews.com , and DeWereldMorgen to support the controversial claim that Israeli forces killed their own soldiers and civilians during the attack. In December 2021, Chinese professional tennis player Peng Shuai disappeared after publicizing sexual assault allegations against former Chinese vice premier Zhang Gaoli . CGTN's official account on Twitter subsequently posted an "email" professed to be from her claiming she

11088-501: The tires of buses, and throwing objects onto railway tracks. Protesters occasionally intimidated and assaulted mainlanders. Some radical protesters promoted the idea of "mutual destruction" or "phoenixism", these terms being translations of the Cantonese lam chau . They theorised that sanctions against the ruling CCP and the loss of Hong Kong's international finance centre and special trade status (caused by China's interference of

11200-401: The two camps, with pro-Beijing citizens attempting to tear down the messages or removing poster art . Some protesters and pedestrians were beaten and attacked with knives near Lennon Walls by a single perpetrator or by suspected gang members. A reporter was stabbed and a teenager distributing pro-protest leaflets had his abdomen slashed. Owners of small businesses seen to be supportive of

11312-585: The two charges of rioting and assaulting a police officer, and to 11 months and two weeks for perverting the course of justice. Carrie Lam invoked the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to impose a law to ban wearing face masks in public gatherings , attempting to curb the ongoing protests on 4 October. The law's enactment was followed by continued demonstrations in various districts of Hong Kong, blocking major thoroughfares, vandalising shops considered to be pro-Beijing and paralysing

11424-411: The victims of the massacre, removing public examination questions which the authorities deemed politically inappropriate, deregistering "yellow-ribbon" teachers, and declaring that separation of powers never existed in Hong Kong despite previous comments by the city's top judges recognising its importance in Hong Kong. It also attempted to reshape the narrative of the Yuen Long attack by claiming that

11536-513: Was broadcasting, and was instead acting as a third-party distributor for CGTN's feed. Ofcom also denied an application to transfer the broadcast license to the China Global Television Network Corporation (CGTNC), on the grounds that CGTNC was "controlled by a body which is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party ". UK law prohibits license holders from being controlled by political bodies. In

11648-516: Was brought under the umbrella of the China Media Group . By 2022, CGTN had built a network of social media influencers, according to the Associated Press . Observers have noted that the "aim [of CGTN] is to influence public opinion overseas in order to nudge foreign governments into making policies favourable towards China’s Communist party" through subtle means. Australian researchers Thomas Fearon and Usha M. Rodrigues argued that CGTN has

11760-474: Was composed, its lyrics crowdsourced on the LIHKG online forum, and sung in flash protests in shopping centres. The Lady Liberty Hong Kong statue was also crowdfunded by citizens to commemorate the protests. Protesters have attempted to gain international support. Activists organised and coordinated numerous rallies to this end. Joshua Wong , Denise Ho and several other democrats provided testimonies during

11872-678: Was created to serve as a unified holding company of the People's Republic's national and international radio and television broadcasting services. In 2020, several of CMG's assets, particularly China Global Television Network and China Radio International, were designated as foreign missions by the United States Department of State . China Global Television Network and China Radio International broadcast in more than 40 languages. 2019%E2%80%932020 Hong Kong protests [REDACTED] Protesters [REDACTED] Government of Hong Kong No centralised leadership The 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests (also known by other names ) were

11984-486: Was evidence that these vloggers were heavily promoted using a mix of 50 Cent Army , click farms , fake bot accounts, and fake news websites , all to "spoof YouTube into treating it like a legitimate view." Global Voices reported in October 2021 that CGTN had also hired Arabic-speaking social media influencers to frame Chinese government policies toward the Uyghurs as part of an anti-terrorist measure. In February 2021,

12096-408: Was guilty of breaching UK broadcasting standards in both incidents. The ruling stated that CGTN had breached Humphrey's privacy and that in the channel's reporting, "material facts were presented, disregarded or omitted in a way that was unfair to Mr Humphrey". In November 2019, CGTN aired a video of a UK consular employee, Simon Cheng , in captivity "confessing" to consorting with prostitutes. Within

12208-743: Was okay, but attracted questions over its authenticity as a cursor was visible in the screenshot of the third line. The Women's Tennis Association did not believe the email was genuine. In March 2022, CGTN paid for digital ads on Facebook targeting global users with briefings and newscasts featuring pro-Kremlin talking points about the Russian invasion of Ukraine after Meta Platforms banned Russian state media advertisement buys. CGTN has promoted unsubstantiated Russian claims of biological weapons labs in Ukraine. In 2023, CGTN ran paid ads on social media platforms in multiple countries and languages denouncing

12320-606: Was shot in the leg with an arrow during the PolyU siege. Protesters also directed violence towards undercover officers suspected to be agents provocateurs. Several individuals were arrested for illegal possession of firearms or making homemade explosives. Unlike other civil unrests, little random smashing and looting were observed, as protesters vandalised targets they believed embodied injustice. Corporations that protesters accused of being pro-Beijing and mainland Chinese companies were also vandalised, subject to arson or spray-painted. Protesters also directed violence at symbols of

12432-768: Was the "Do Not Split" praxis , which was aimed to promote mutual respect for different views within the same protest movement. The moderate group participated in different capacities. The peaceful group held mass rallies, and engaged in other forms of protest such as hunger strikes , forming human chains , launching petitions, labour strikes, and class boycotts. Lennon Walls were set up in various neighbourhoods to spread messages of support and display protest art. Protesters had set up pop-up stores that sold cheap protest gadgets, provided undercover clinics for young activists, and crowdfunded to help people in need of medical or legal assistance. To raise awareness of their cause and to keep citizens informed, artists supporting

12544-597: Was unarmed, and sieges of the Chinese University and the Polytechnic University in November 2019 were landmark events. The unprecedented landslide victory of the pro-democracy camp in the November local election was widely regarded as a de facto referendum on the city's governance. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong in early 2020 largely silenced the protests. Tensions mounted again in May 2020 after Beijing's decision to promulgate

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