BLM protests vs the capitol riots

13 February 2021

PROTESTS IN HONG KONG

What it means for the Region

photo courtesy of artur kornakov History of Hong Kong to make up 27% of Chinese GDP in the China’s response to this movement was to

At first, Hong Kong was just a early 90s, but it has fallen to only 3% now. establish more power over the city. rocky island with a very small This pushed China to start erasing that population. It was given to Britain imaginary border between the mainland Protests for 99 years as part of a peace country and the island. They built The recent protests in Hong Kong were deal during the Opium Wars buildings, structures, and began mainly sparked by the murder of Poon between England and dispensing propaganda in Hiu-Wing, which led to the ExtradiChina. Much of Hong order to show Chinese sover- tion Bill in 2019. This bill would allow Kong was influenced eignty. On June 4th, 1989, Taiwan and mainland China to try people by European lifestyle. pro-democracy protestors for their crimes. On a deeper level, this A road was built to marched on Tiananmen bill symbolizes the status of Hong Kong seperate the island Square, Beijing for the and China’s power over it. This started and China, it acted as end of the single-party the largest protest in the region’s history. an imaginary border that rule, which led to a large Hong Kongers spread throughout their separated Chinese and massacre. This gained the streets for weeks, pushing back against European life. Hong Kong attention of many Hong China’s encroachment. These protestors soon became urbanized and Kongers. In 2003, the region were able to convince the government to their economy skyrocketed. In photo courtesy fought against legislation that suspend the bill, but their goal is to get 1997, Hong Kong was returned of jj ying would punish speaking out against rid of the bill entirely. However, many to China with an agreement that China. In 2014, the Chinese gov- pro-democracy leaders and Hong Kongers stated they would be able to retain their ernment tried to control Hong are being arrested. Not only lifestyle, legal system, rights, and free- Kong’s election to ensure a do people face arrest, but doms for the next 50 years in order to start pro-China candidate. This some are being abducted. adjusting to Chinese rule. China became a sparked outrage and pro- Booksellers were reportOne Country, Two System model. tests, including the Um- ed missing after selling brella movement on the books that exposed the July 1st 2047 island. The Umbrella Chinese government, The agreement is instituted for 50 movement represented which are illegal in years:July 1st, 2047 is when Hong Kong a growing Hong Kong mainland China. This is supposed to be fully under China’s rule; identity and resistance creates a threat to Hong until then, Hong Kong remains auton- against Chinese government Kong’s freedom of speech. If omous. China respected this agreement influence. It sparked a politi- this bill is passed, it will symuntil the island was no longer the econom- cal awakening that caused more bolize the fall of Hong Kong. ic powerhouse of China. Hong Kong used people to vote in the election. photo courtesy of joseph chan katie le|staff writer