LIHKG ( Chinese : 連登 ; Cantonese Yale : Lìhn dāng ) is a multi-category forum website based in Hong Kong . The website has gained popularity since the launch in 2016, and is often referred to as the Hong Kong version of Reddit .
112-437: Threads with more up-votes and replies appear towards the top of topic sections and, if they receive sufficient votes and replies, they will ultimately be on the site's "Popular" section. The website is well known for being one of the main platforms for discussing the strategies for the leaderless anti-extradition bill protests in 2019. In 2016, HKG+, a 3rd party app of HKGolden was suspended by HKGolden. On 21 November 2016,
224-692: 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
336-522: A Hong Kong police officer barely survived a knife attack from Leung Kin-fai , a Vitasoy purchasing agent and former information officer for Apple Daily . Leung later killed himself, and his suicide note expressed his hatred toward the police, opposition to the National Security Law, and intention to kill an officer. Some Hongkongers saw Leung as a martyr and offered flowers as tribute. The police officer underwent seven hours of surgery and
448-663: A bill under Article 23, and so resorted to enactment through the National People's Congress instead. Unlike the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill 2003, an ordinary piece of legislation submitted to the Legislative Council (LegCo) to comply with the constitutional requirements of Article 23 of the Basic Law to enact laws in that connection, the law whose enactment is authorised by
560-690: A central government presence in Hong Kong to maintain national security. Article 5 requires regular reports from the Chief Executive of Hong Kong on national security. Article 6 authorises the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to draft a national security law, and then to include it in Annex III of the Basic Law. Article 7 provides that the decision as a whole shall take effect on promulgation. The decision to impose
672-470: 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
784-492: A joint meeting to discuss the legislation of the national security law, with 329 out of 458 councillors attending. All 17 District Councils passed the motion to demand the withdrawal of the national security law. The convener Clarisse Yeung , who is also the chairwoman of the Wan Chai District Council , stated that the result of the meeting reflects the real public opinion in Hong Kong. Several members of
896-528: 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
1008-407: 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
1120-421: 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
1232-867: A new urgency, with people asking for the visa that will be approved the fastest. Estate agencies report an increase in interest in Singapore for high net worth individuals, with families increasingly asking about the UK, Australia , and Canada . Chief Executive Carrie Lam said that the Hong Kong government would fully cooperate with Beijing. Andrew Leung , the President of the LegCo , and Martin Liao , pro-establishment LegCo convener, also expressed support. Lam said that any national security law enacted would not affect
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#17327835028861344-426: 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
1568-768: A rally occurred to protest against the proposed security law. It was the biggest protest in Hong Kong since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. For the first time in two months, the police deployed tear gas in an attempt to disperse the protesters. On 27 May 2020, protesters gathered again on the streets to protest against the proposed national security law and the national anthem bill, which underwent its second reading on that day. Demonstrations of varying scale occurred in different districts including Causeway Bay , Central , and Mong Kok. Tear gas and pepper balls were fired and 360 people were arrested that day for unauthorised assembly and other charges. The Guardian 's China specialists Tania Branigan and Lily Kuo wrote that
1680-409: 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
1792-427: 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
1904-501: 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
2016-589: 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
2128-987: 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
2240-432: A three-day meeting of the Standing Committee – which had been tasked with preparing the new legislation –, Xinhua newspaper published draft details that the Standing Committee had elaborated: presumed settling China's security office in Hong Kong to monitor security, as well as rules about monitoring education regarding national security aspects, prime importance of China's government decisions above Hong Kong government: "If
2352-551: Is "entrenched in the Basic Law". Second, the presence of mainland Chinese security organs mooted by Article 4 of the Decision did not make clear whether their agents would be required to comply with Hong Kong law, or how their deployment could be compatible with Article 22(1) of the Basic Law, which proscribes interference in affairs administered by the HKSAR 'on its own'. On 6 June 2020, 17 out 18 District Councils unprecedentedly held
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#17327835028862464-642: 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
2800-575: 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
2912-564: 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
3024-734: 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
3136-589: 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
3248-538: 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
3360-725: 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
3472-543: The Standing Committee (NPCSC) of the National People's Congress. Article 18(3) provides for such enactments in cases concerning defence and foreign affairs, as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy of the Region . The Department of Justice's press release, however, stated that "national security is outside the limits of the autonomy of the HKSAR". The HKBA responded that in view of Article 23 of
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3584-537: 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
3696-615: 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
3808-459: The pan-democratic camp expressed concern. Lee Cheuk-yan said that the law could be used as an arbitrary "one-size-fits-all" charge against activists, citing Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo 's prison sentence of 11 years for "inciting subversion". Tanya Chan , the convener of pro-democratic camp, commented that the drafted decision confirmed that Hong Kong is changing from "One country, Two systems" to "One country, One system", saying that
3920-531: 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
4032-675: The "legitimate rights and freedoms" of Hong Kong people, and said that its enactment by inclusion in Annex III of the Basic Law (see above) was entirely legitimate. Paul Kwong the Archbishop and Primate of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (the Anglican province of Hong Kong), and Venerable Master Kuan Yun [ zh ] , the president of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association , called
4144-633: The "state" will "complete" legal and enforcement mechanisms to preserve national security. Article 2 says that the state will stop and punish "overseas forces' use of Hong Kong" for separatist, subversive or destructive activities. Article 3 states that maintaining China's sovereignty is Hong Kong's constitutional responsibility. It further requires Hong Kong to enact national security legislation "as soon as possible", and its executive, legislature and judiciary to "stop and punish conduct endangering national security". Article 4 requires Hong Kong to establish institutions to protect national security, and provides for
4256-567: 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
4368-532: The Basic Law, which requires Hong Kong inter alia to enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition , national security is "within" the limits of Hong Kong's autonomy. The Department of Justice maintained nevertheless that Article 23 authorises national security legislation but "does not preclude" additional legislation by the Central Authorities. The decision, that may be translated from Chinese language as "Decision of
4480-553: 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
4592-461: The CCP, doxed about 200 people seen as being supportive of the protests. On 25 October 2019, Hong Kong Police obtained a court injunction prohibiting anyone from sharing any personal information about police officers or their families. National People%27s Congress decision on Hong Kong national security legislation The Decision of the National People's Congress on Establishing and Improving
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4704-530: The Chinese government is intervening in Hong Kong matters in all aspects. Social activist Joshua Wong said that China was trying to sever the connections of Hong Kong with the international community. Jimmy Sham , convener of the Civil Human Rights Front , also attacked the law, comparing it to a "nuclear weapon". Among other responses, the United States prominently announced that it would revoke Hong Kong's special trade status on 27 May. Pompeo called
4816-627: The Legal System and Enforcement Mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Safeguard National Security is a congressional resolution passed by the third session of the 13th National People's Congress on 28 May 2020. This resolution authorizes the National People's Congress Standing Committee to promulgate a national security law in Hong Kong . According to the decision,
4928-526: 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
5040-590: 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
5152-664: The NPCSC decision the "latest in a series of actions that fundamentally undermine Hong Kong's autonomy and freedoms". On 19 June 2020, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Beijing's unilateral introduction of the national security legislation in Hong Kong, and called for the finalization of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Mechanism, which could be used to impose Magnitsky -style sanctions, for example assets freezing, on Chinese officials responsible for
5264-418: The National People's Congress on Establishing and Perfecting the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanism of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to Maintain National Security" ( 全国人民代表大会关于建立健全香港特别行政区维护国家安全的法律制度和执行机制的决定 ), comprises 7 articles, the Chinese text was published by state papers on 28 May 2020. Article 1 restates the importance of one country, two systems and the rule of law, and states that
5376-564: 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
5488-645: 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
5600-576: 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,
5712-600: 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
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#17327835028865824-402: 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
5936-418: 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
6048-509: 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
6160-461: The bill was abandoned after mass demonstrations. An extradition law amendment bill proposing to allow extradition to China was proposed in 2019, sparking the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests , later to be withdrawn. The South China Morning Post reported that the central government of the People's Republic of China was of the view that the political climate in Hong Kong would preclude the passage of
6272-594: The bill. Several Hong Kong government officials strove to reassure investors, with Financial Secretary Paul Chan writing on his blog that any harm to investor confidence was due to "misunderstanding" of the law. The Hong Kong government in 2003 attempted to enact the National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill 2003 to comply with the requirement under Article 23 of the Basic Law that it should enact national security legislation "on its own". However,
6384-406: 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
6496-411: 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
6608-404: 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
6720-450: 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
6832-516: 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,
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#17327835028866944-590: 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
7056-822: 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
7168-399: 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
7280-480: The decision a necessary move. Chen Daoxiang, the PLA commander in Hong Kong, said that his garrison would safeguard "national sovereignty and development interests", and that the national security law to be drafted and enacted under the decision was "conducive to deter separatist forces and external intervention". The New York Times reported that state media painted laws proposed by the decision as "necessary to protect
7392-482: The decision as a threat to the " one country, two systems " principle, the rule of law and civil liberties. In late May 2020, Chinese diplomat Xie Feng said that the laws would only target a minority of "troublemakers" who had endangered Chinese national security. Around the same time, Hong Kong Secretary for Security John Lee said regarding the Hong Kong situation that “terrorism is growing” and calls for Hong Kong independence had become more frequent, which necessitated
7504-557: The decision would be enacted by inclusion in Annex III, which does not require a vote in the LegCo. The constitutionality of the inclusion of such laws in Annex III, whilst defended in a press release by the Department of Justice and by some members of the legal community, has been disputed by the Hong Kong Bar Association (HKBA). The dispute concerns what authority Article 18(3) of the Basic Law provides to
7616-496: The developer of HKG+ announced on their Facebook page that they have shared part of the source code of the app with another developers, Hui Yip-hang ( 許業珩 ), who is known as " 連尼住 " ( Jyutping : lin nei zyu ) on the forum, and Mong Yuen ( 望遠 ). Based on the source code, they developed LIHKG. Registration of membership is restricted to people with a Hong Kong ISP or an institution of higher education email address located in Hong Kong. Registered members may create threads on
7728-432: 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,
7840-459: 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
7952-584: 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
8064-575: 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
8176-494: 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
8288-486: 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;
8400-786: 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
8512-414: The law would fundamentally damage their rights of expression and freedom. 10 times the usual number of web searches about emigration were recorded after the decision was announced. The Taiwanese government said that they would help anyone leaving Hong Kong find passage away; China threatened "all means" against Taiwan but also said violence would be a last resort. SCMP reported that after the decision on
8624-473: The law, the number of Hong Kong residents speaking to estate agents about properties in the United Kingdom (UK) rose rapidly. One article compared it to the mass exodus seen before the 1997 handover, also saying that local estate agents were cutting the asking prices for Hong Kong properties to keep business. Another SCMP article noted that the British announcement of BNO extension plans likely contributed to
8736-486: The local laws... are inconsistent with this Law, the provisions of this Law shall apply. The power to interpret this law belongs to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress." On 30 June 2020, the NPCSC unanimously passed the Hong Kong national security law, which was subsequently gazetted on the same day and officially came into force. The details of the new legislation were kept in secret, even Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam did not see it, until
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
9184-499: The new law can be paraphrased as follows: Added details about Article 43 emerged after the meeting of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) , headed by Carrie Lam, and were published on 6 July 2020; the added details state that: The same day, 6 July 2020, Facebook and WhatsApp said they suspended requests from Hong Kong Government about user data. On 24 May 2020
9296-532: The new law was approved on 28 May 2020 by a vote of 2878 to 1, with 6 abstentions. The NPCSC was therefore authorised to draft the official text of a national security law, and to enact it by including it in the Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law; Beijing has said the process will be completed by an "early date". A draft law was submitted to the NPCSC and reviewed on its 19th session from 18 June 2020 to 20 June 2020, details of which were released by state-run Xinhua news agency on 20 June. On 20 June 2020, after
9408-559: The new law was published only in Chinese language at 11 o'clock in the evening Beijing time on 30 June 2020. The new law in the Chinese language took effect immediately after publishing, the China's State paper Xinhua also supplied text, translated in English "for reference only" under title "The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". The main articles of
9520-548: 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
9632-406: 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
9744-475: 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
9856-579: 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
9968-568: 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
10080-516: 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
10192-438: 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
10304-655: The proposed national security law seeks to prevent external interference in Hong Kong's affairs, criminalise acts that threaten national security such as subversion and secession, allow the State Council of the People's Republic of China to establish a national security agency in Hong Kong when necessary and require the Chief Executive to send the central government periodic reports on national security. The pan-democratic camp , legal professionals, human rights organisations and politicians abroad have criticised
10416-461: 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 ",
10528-489: The protest movement in Hong Kong changed after the NPC announcement of the law, with the mood shifting to one where many Hong Kong protestors are willing and prepared to die for the cause of keeping Mainland Chinese influence out, and with calls to find an impactful and permanent solution to Mainland Chinese interference, rather than small-scale measures. A rare slogan, calling for complete independence rather than more control, became
10640-499: 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
10752-589: 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
10864-475: 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
10976-458: 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
11088-498: The rise in searches for UK homes specifically, with properties in London , Birmingham and Manchester being especially desirable. It quoted an estate agent who said that the demand for UK properties had, over a few days, reached where it was at its peak during the 2019 protests and before the pandemic. Immigration agencies in Hong Kong also saw a jump in inquiries, with one company seeing "a four to fivefold increase in cases", citing
11200-545: The rule of the Communist Party" and were strongly supportive of the law. The Hong Kong Bar Association issued a statement raising two concerns as to the nature of the law proposed by the decision. First, the association suggested that consultation was inadequate and that there was no guarantee that any eventual law would comply with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , which
11312-781: The site, while uploading contents such as text posts, hyperlinks or images. The posts then receive replies and may be voted up or down by other members. Posts are separated into various categories and are then grouped in the "Chat" category. In December 2019, the LIHKG website was subjected to a DDoS attack by the Great Cannon of China . This Internet-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . 2019%E2%80%9320 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
11424-526: 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
11536-501: 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
11648-401: 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
11760-585: 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
11872-411: The unifying chant of the protests, while the concept of " laam chau " gained momentum. This is the ideology of taking Hong Kong down and dragging Mainland China with it. One protestor said: "If the Chinese army comes out, we will celebrate. The entire Hong Kong business environment will collapse. If they call the military here, it would ruin Hong Kong and also mainland China's economy". On 1 July 2021,
11984-411: 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
12096-422: 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
12208-574: Was hospitalized for 19 days. Losses of about 5% were recorded in on the Hang Seng Index (the worst day since 2015 ), and some Japanese stocks also fell. Carrie Lam denied that the losses were due to the decision, attributing them to usual "ups and downs" in the market. China has sought to assure international investors that they will not be affected. Hang Seng Index regained lost ground a week later. Some Hong Kong citizens began looking for ways to emigrate and leave Hong Kong, feeling that
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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