2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests
Hundreds of thousands of protesters marching in the 9 June protest, captured in Hennessy Road
Date	28 April 2019 – ongoing (6 years, 10 months, 1 week and 3 days)
Location	Hong Kong: Wan Chai to Admiralty (31 March 2019) Causeway Bay to Admiralty (28 April 2019) Central to Admiralty (6 June 2019) Causeway Bay to Admiralty (9 June 2019) Admiralty (12 June 2019) Some other dozens cities abroad
Caused by	The proposal of the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 by the Government of Hong Kong
Goals	Withdrawal of the bill Prevent extradition to mainland China Resignation of Chief executive Carrie Lam
Methods	Occupations, sit-ins, civil disobedience, mobile street protests, internet activism, mass strike
Status	Ongoing
Parties
Legal profession Law Society of Hong Kong Hong Kong Bar Association Pro-democracy activists Civil Human Rights Front Demosistō Pro-democracy camp Authorities Hong Kong SAR Government Hong Kong Police Force Chinese central government Communist Party of China
Arrests and injuries
Injuries	72[1] (as of 12 June 2019)
Arrested	358[2] (as of 9 June 2019)

The 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests are a series of demonstrations in Hong Kong and other cities around the world, demanding the withdrawal of the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. It is feared that the bill would cause the city to open itself up to the reach of mainland Chinese law and that people from Hong Kong could become subject to a different legal system.

Various protests have been launched in Hong Kong by the general public and legal communities. Among these, the 9 June protest organised by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), which the organisation estimates was attended by 1.03 million people, has gained large mass media coverage.^[3] Protests in other places were also launched by overseas Hongkongers and locals.

Despite the widespread demonstrations, the government insists on the bill's passage, stating that the bill is urgent and that the legal "loophole" should be fixed.^[4]

In 1987, the territorial principle was proposed to settle the jurisdiction issue between Hong Kong and mainland China by the Special Group on Law of the Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Committee, so that any person, whether an inhabitant of Hong Kong or of mainland China, who has committed an offence should be prosecuted and tried at the place of offence.^[5] In 1998, pro-democrat legislator Martin Lee, one of the group members, said in a Legislative Council meeting that the Hong Kong government should "stand firm" on the territorial principle and "must tackle without delay" the rendition arrangement with China.^[6] However, there is no such arrangement as of 2019.

The Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 (Chinese: 2019年逃犯及刑事事宜相互法律協助法例(修訂)條例草案) is a proposed bill regarding extradition to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance (Cap. 503) in relation to special surrender arrangements and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance (Cap. 525) so that arrangements for mutual legal assistance can be made between Hong Kong and any place outside Hong Kong.^[7] The bill was proposed by the Hong Kong government in February 2019 to request the surrender of a Hong Kong suspect in a homicide case in Taiwan. The government proposed to establish a mechanism for transfers of fugitives not only for Taiwan, but also for Mainland China and Macau, which are not covered in the existing laws.^[8]

The first protest, launched by Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) on 31 March, started from Luard Road (Southorn Playground) and ended at Civic Square. Protesters chanted "With extradition to the mainland, Hong Kong becomes a dark prison" and "Stop the evil law". Lam Wing-kee, the owner of Causeway Bay Books who disappeared along with his other colleagues in 2015, led the rally along with other pro-democracy group members. Lam has since left Hong Kong for Taiwan due to fears for his personal security.^[9]

The organisation said that 12,000 attended the march, while the Hong Kong Police Force estimated just 5,200 people. The organisers stated that there would be further protests if the government still insisted with the bill.^[10]

On 28 April, 130,000 protesters joined the march against the proposed extradition law according to organisers, while police estimated that only 22,800 joined. The turnout was the largest since an estimated 510,000 joined the annual 1 July protest in 2014. The rally started from Causeway Bay to the Legislative Council in Admiralty, which is a 2.2 km route. It took more than 4 hours.^[11] Vice-convenor of the CHRF, Figo Chan Ho-hang, threatened to escalate its opposition if the government did not withdraw the bill.^[11]

A day after the protest, Chief Executive Carrie Lam was adamant that the bill would be enacted and said the Legislative councillors had to pass new extradition laws before their summer break, even though the man at the heart of the case used to justify the urgency of new legislation Chan Tong-kai had been jailed for 29 months shortly before.^[12] Chan received a prison sentence of 29 months on 29 April. However, since he had already been detained for 13 months since his arrest in Hong Kong, his sentence would end in August 2020. Secretary for Security John Lee said that Chan could be released by October at the earliest since good behaviour in prison can result in a one-third reduction of a prisoner's sentence, and he would then be free to leave the city.^[13]

In a rare protest, more than 3,000 Hong Kong lawyers, representing around one quarter of the city's lawyers, marched against the bill. Wearing black, they marched from the Court of Final Appeal to the Central Government Offices on 6 June. They then stood in front of the government headquarters looking at the building for three minutes silently.^[14]

The march was organised by Dennis Kwok, Legislative Councillor for the Legal constituency. It was the fifth, and largest, protest march held by lawyers in Hong Kong since 1997 after a series of intrusions by the Chinese Government.^[15]

While lawyers expressed grave reservations about the openness and fairness of the justice system in China, limited access to a lawyer, and the prevalence of torture, Secretary for Security John Lee said the legal sector did not really understand the bill. A senior barrister complained that government's inability or unwillingness to listen was polarising, adding that it was "so stupid, so arrogant".^[16]

In response to the proposed bill, the Civil Human Rights Front called a march from Victoria Park, Causeway Bay to the Legislative Council in Admiralty on 9 June – an approximately 3km (1.86mi) route.^[17][18] Hundreds of thousands of protesters were drawn to the street, wearing white to symbolise "light and brightness" and justice, chanting "Scrap the evil law," "Oppose China extradition" and "Carrie Lam resign" and waving Taiwanese flags on the day.^[19][20]

Protesters brought Hong Kong Island to a halt from early afternoon until late at night. The MTR enacted crowd control measures in which the police ordered trains not to stop at Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Tin Hau stations for several hours.^[21] Protesters had to get off at Fortress Hill in order to join the protest from there.^[22] Police urged protesters to march from Victoria Park before the 3 pm start-time to ease overcrowding. During the march, there were several times when protesters come to a standstill due to the limited road space. People demanded that the police opened up more roads. It was only after some protesters climbed over a metal barricade and walked on lanes originally reserved for traffic that police opened up all lanes on Hennessy Road, having previously refused to do so.^[23]

A huge number of protesters were still leaving Victoria Park up to four hours after the start time and were still arriving at the end-point at Admiralty seven hours after the protest began.^[24]

Jimmy Sham, convener of the CHRF said that 1.03 million people attended the march – the largest protest Hong Kong has seen since the 1997 handover – surpassing the turnout seen at mass rallies in support of the Tiananmen protests of 1989 and 1 July March 2003.^[25] The police countered with an estimate of 270,000 at its peak.^[26][27][28]

Other than the march, more than a dozen ships carrying banners with slogans supporting the bill cruised Victoria Harbour.^[29] Around 20 supporters from the Safeguard Hong Kong Alliance – a pro-government group – showed up at Tamar to support the bill around 12 pm.^[30]

Hundreds of protesters camped out in front of the government headquarters well into the night, with more joining them in response to calls from Demosisto and pro-independence activists. The Civil Human Rights Front officially called an end to the march at 10 pm, however, around 100 protesters remained at the Civic Square.^[31]

Pro-independence groups, Student Localism and the Students Independent Union, called for protesters to stay after the day march and storm the legislative council. Some protesters called for street occupations as a further show of strength, while others insisted of a peaceful protest. Still, around 500 people occupied Harcourt Road and Lung Wo Road, while police urged protesters to leave.^[29]

A stand-off with police around midnight descended into chaos following a press release from the Hong Kong government stating the bill reading would continue as planned – unchanged from before the protests. Protesters in Civic Square, most of them wearing face masks, threw bottles and metal barriers at the police, while the police tried to drive them away with batons and pepper spray.^[26] Anti-riot officers arrived, and warned protesters that they would "command appropriate force".^[32]

Protesters in Harcourt Road and Lung Wo Road moved simultaneously, and threw metal barricades placed by the police. They then protested and chanted in Gloucester Road.^[29] SCMP commented the night protest as "the scene of bigger clashes during the 2014 Occupy movement for greater democracy".^[33] The protest ended at around 3 am, with several police officers and protesters injured.^[33] 358 protesters were arrested, with more than 80% younger than 25.^[34]

At least 29 rallies were held in 12 countries with protesters taking to the streets in cities around the world with significant Hong Kong diaspora, including about 4,000 in London, about 3,000 in Sydney, and further rallies in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Vancouver, Berlin, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Taipei.^[35][36] As one of the biggest overseas protests, hundreds of demonstrators mostly made up of Hong Kong immigrants filled the street outside the Chinese consulate-general in Vancouver with yellow umbrellas and chants against the extradition law. More than 60 people gathered outside the White House in Washington to protest against the bill.^[37]

Carrie Lam declined to answer questions at a public appearance in Ocean Park on 9 June afternoon. At 11 pm, the government issued a press statement, saying that it "acknowledge[s] and respect[s] that people have different views on a wide range of issues", but insisted the second reading debate on the bill would resume on 12 June.^[38] Following 10 June violent clashes, Lam spoke in the next morning along with Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng and Secretary for Security John Lee, stating that the size of the rally showed there were "clearly still concerns" over the bill but refused to withdraw it.^[39]

After the protest, the Beijing government blamed "outside interference" and voiced its support to the Hong Kong administration. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang accused opponents of the proposed legislation of "collusion with the West".^[40] State-run media such as China Daily cited more than 700,000 people backing the legislation through an online petition, "countering a protest by about 240,000 people"^[41][40] while the Global Times dismissed the mass demonstration on 9 June, stating that "some international forces have significantly strengthened their interaction with the Hong Kong opposition in recent months".^[42]

The protests were mostly censored from Mainland Chinese social media, such as Weibo.^[43] Keyword searches of "Hong Kong," "HK" and "extradition bill" leads to other official news and entertainment news. Accounts that posted content regarding the protest are also blocked.^[44]

President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen expressed her solidarity with the people of Hong Kong on whose faces wore the longing for freedom. She was reminded that Taiwan's democracy was hard-earned and must be guarded an renewed, and pledged that one country, two systems would never be an option as long as she was President.^[45]

U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus voiced support for the 9 June protesters, saying that "the peaceful demonstration of hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers yesterday clearly shows the public's opposition to the proposed amendments." Ortagus also called on the Hong Kong government to ensure that "any amendments to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance should be pursued with great care."^[46]

United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi strongly condemned the bill and offered support to the protesters. "The hearts of all freedom-loving people were moved by the courage of the one million men and women of Hong Kong who took to the streets on Sunday to peacefully demand their rights, defend their sovereignty and denounce this horrific extradition bill" and that Americans stands with the people in Hong Kong.^[47]

Protests resumed on 12 June following an announcement from the government that the bill will continue its reading. Sit-ins in the government headquarters have taken place since the morning.^[48] Despite the urge from Civil Human Rights Front to citizens to protest with peace and non-violence, the situation has become chaotic.^[49][50]

In the afternoon, the police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and smoke bombs on protesters outside the Legislative Council's complex. Protesters, while chanting "withdraw!" and moving barricades, wore face masks, goggles, umbrellas and makeshift body armour to protect themselves.^[51]

The government and police controversially declared that the protest had "turned into a riot",^[52][53][54] the first time the authorities had used the term for local demonstrations since the 1967 riots.^{[citation needed]} 72 people aged between 15 and 66 have been injured, with two men in a critical condition.^[55] SCMP stated that the protests "reminiscent of and even more intense than the Occupy protests of 2014".^[50]

Overnight, 2,000 protesters from religious groups held a vigil outside the government offices, with some singing hymns and joining in prayers.^[56] Various trade unions, businesses and schools also vowed to stage protests.^[57] The Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union has called for a city-wide strike for a week. At least 4,000 Hong Kong teachers have followed the call.^[58]

In Taipei, representatives from 24 Taiwanese civic groups, including Taiwan Association for Human Rights, protested outside Hong Kong's representative office in Taipei, while shouting slogans such as "Taiwan supports Hong Kong." In Kaohsiung, around 150 Hong Kong students staged a sit-in protest requesting the Hong Kong government to withdraw the bill.^[59]

Carrie Lam, in a video from the government news service by the Information Services Department, blamed protesters for "organising a riot", and that it poses a security threat to the people.^[60] In another interview with TVB, Lam said in tears that she had not "sold Hong Kong out," and that she loved and had made sacrifices for the city, but insisted that the bill would not be withdrawn.^[61] Democratic Party Legco member James To rebutted her argument, saying a lot of people in society including himself felt that Lam loved power and approval more than Hong Kong.^[62]

President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen had posted on Instagram to provide support for "Hongkongers on the front line" and that they assist in protecting free speech and democracy.^[63] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan stated that they stand shoulder to shoulder with the hundreds of thousands in Hong Kong fighting the extradition bill & for rule of law, and that Taiwan is with them.^[64]

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt urged the Hong Kong government to listen to the concerns of the protesters, stating that "it is essential that the authorities engage in meaningful dialogue and take steps to preserve Hong Kong's rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy, which underpin its international reputation". He added that upholding the one country, two systems principle, which is legally bound in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, is vital to Hong Kong's future success.^[65] The British Consulate in Hong Kong has also opened its doors for protesters needing sanctuary.^[66]

Parliamentary leader Guy Verhofstadt stated that scenes were inspirational for making a stand for human rights and the rule of law and that Europe was watching.^[67]

• 2019 in Hong Kong
• Causeway Bay Books disappearances
• Hong Kong protests
  • 2010 Marches for Universal Suffrage
  • 2014 Hong Kong protests
  • 2016 Mong Kok civil unrest
  • Umbrella Movement
• Human rights in China

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