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| Why are there protests in Hong Kong? All the context you need | Why are there protests in Hong Kong? All the context you need |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Demonstrators in Hong Kong have again blocked key roads and government buildings, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets in response. | Demonstrators in Hong Kong have again blocked key roads and government buildings, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets in response. |
| On the surface, these protests are about plans that would allow extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China (we've explained those plans - and just why they rankle - here). | On the surface, these protests are about plans that would allow extradition from Hong Kong to mainland China (we've explained those plans - and just why they rankle - here). |
| But this is not all happening in a vacuum. There's a lot of important context - some of it stretching back decades - that helps explain what is going on. | But this is not all happening in a vacuum. There's a lot of important context - some of it stretching back decades - that helps explain what is going on. |
| Hong Kong has a special status... | Hong Kong has a special status... |
| It's important to remember that Hong Kong is significantly different from other Chinese cities. To understand this, you need to look at its history. | It's important to remember that Hong Kong is significantly different from other Chinese cities. To understand this, you need to look at its history. |
| It was a British colony for more than 150 years - part of it, Hong Kong island, was ceded to the UK after a war in 1842. Later, China also leased the rest of Hong Kong - the New Territories - to the British for 99 years. | It was a British colony for more than 150 years - part of it, Hong Kong island, was ceded to the UK after a war in 1842. Later, China also leased the rest of Hong Kong - the New Territories - to the British for 99 years. |
| It became a busy trading port, and its economy took off in the 1950s as it became a manufacturing hub. | It became a busy trading port, and its economy took off in the 1950s as it became a manufacturing hub. |
| The territory was also popular with migrants and dissidents fleeing instability, poverty or persecution in mainland China. | The territory was also popular with migrants and dissidents fleeing instability, poverty or persecution in mainland China. |
| Then, in the early 1980s, as the deadline for the 99-year-lease approached, Britain and China began talks on the future of Hong Kong - with the communist government in China arguing that all of Hong Kong should be returned to Chinese rule. | Then, in the early 1980s, as the deadline for the 99-year-lease approached, Britain and China began talks on the future of Hong Kong - with the communist government in China arguing that all of Hong Kong should be returned to Chinese rule. |
| The two sides reached a deal in 1984 that would see Hong Kong return to China in 1997, under the principle of "one country, two systems". | The two sides reached a deal in 1984 that would see Hong Kong return to China in 1997, under the principle of "one country, two systems". |
| This meant that while becoming part of one country with China, Hong Kong would enjoy "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" for 50 years. | This meant that while becoming part of one country with China, Hong Kong would enjoy "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" for 50 years. |
| As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system and borders, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected. | As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system and borders, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected. |
| For example, it is one of the few places in Chinese territory where people can commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, where the military opened fire on unarmed protesters in Beijing. | For example, it is one of the few places in Chinese territory where people can commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, where the military opened fire on unarmed protesters in Beijing. |
| ...but things are changing | ...but things are changing |
| Hong Kong still enjoys freedoms not seen on mainland China - but critics say they are on the decline. | Hong Kong still enjoys freedoms not seen on mainland China - but critics say they are on the decline. |
| Rights groups have accused China of meddling in Hong Kong, citing examples such as legal rulings that have disqualified pro-democracy legislators. They've also been concerned by the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers, and a tycoon who then turned up in custody in China. | Rights groups have accused China of meddling in Hong Kong, citing examples such as legal rulings that have disqualified pro-democracy legislators. They've also been concerned by the disappearance of five Hong Kong booksellers, and a tycoon who then turned up in custody in China. |
| Artists and writers say they are under increased pressure to self-censor - and a Financial Times journalist was barred from entering Hong Kong after he hosted an event that featured an independence activist. | Artists and writers say they are under increased pressure to self-censor - and a Financial Times journalist was barred from entering Hong Kong after he hosted an event that featured an independence activist. |
| Another sticking point has been democratic reform. | Another sticking point has been democratic reform. |
| Hong Kong's leader, the chief executive, is currently elected by a 1,200-member election committee - a mostly pro-Beijing body chosen by just 6% of eligible voters. | Hong Kong's leader, the chief executive, is currently elected by a 1,200-member election committee - a mostly pro-Beijing body chosen by just 6% of eligible voters. |
| Not all the 70 members of the territory's lawmaking body, the Legislative Council, are directly chosen by Hong Kong's voters. Most seats not directly elected are occupied by pro-Beijing lawmakers. Some elected members have even been disbarred for refusing to say the pledge of allegiance properly (one that calls for "allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China") and they also held a flag saying "Hong Kong is not China." | |
| Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, says it should ultimately elect its leader in a more democratic way - but there's been disagreement over what this should look like. | Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, says it should ultimately elect its leader in a more democratic way - but there's been disagreement over what this should look like. |
| The Chinese government said in 2014 it would allow voters to choose their leaders from a list approved by a pro-Beijing committee, but critics called this a "sham democracy" and it was voted down in Hong Kong's legislature. | The Chinese government said in 2014 it would allow voters to choose their leaders from a list approved by a pro-Beijing committee, but critics called this a "sham democracy" and it was voted down in Hong Kong's legislature. |
| In 28 years' time in 2047, the Basic Law expires - and what happens to Hong Kong's autonomy after that is unclear. | In 28 years' time in 2047, the Basic Law expires - and what happens to Hong Kong's autonomy after that is unclear. |
| Most people in Hong Kong don't see themselves as Chinese | Most people in Hong Kong don't see themselves as Chinese |
| While most people in Hong Kong are ethnic Chinese, and although Hong Kong is part of China, a majority of people there don't identify as Chinese. | While most people in Hong Kong are ethnic Chinese, and although Hong Kong is part of China, a majority of people there don't identify as Chinese. |
| Surveys from the University of Hong Kong show that most people identify themselves as "Hong Kongers" - and only 15% would call themselves "Chinese". | Surveys from the University of Hong Kong show that most people identify themselves as "Hong Kongers" - and only 15% would call themselves "Chinese". |
| The difference is even more stark for the young - a 2017 survey suggested that only 3% of people aged 18-29 identified as Chinese. | The difference is even more stark for the young - a 2017 survey suggested that only 3% of people aged 18-29 identified as Chinese. |
| Hong Kongers have described legal, social and cultural differences - and the fact Hong Kong was a separate colony for 150 years - as reasons for why they don't identify with their compatriots in mainland China. | Hong Kongers have described legal, social and cultural differences - and the fact Hong Kong was a separate colony for 150 years - as reasons for why they don't identify with their compatriots in mainland China. |
| There has also been a rise in anti-mainland Chinese sentiment in Hong Kong in recent years, with people complaining about rude tourists disregarding local norms or driving up the cost of living. | There has also been a rise in anti-mainland Chinese sentiment in Hong Kong in recent years, with people complaining about rude tourists disregarding local norms or driving up the cost of living. |
| Some young activists have even called for Hong Kong's independence from China, something that alarms the Beijing government. | Some young activists have even called for Hong Kong's independence from China, something that alarms the Beijing government. |
| Protesters feel the extradition bill, if passed, would bring the territory closer under China's control. | Protesters feel the extradition bill, if passed, would bring the territory closer under China's control. |
| "Hong Kong will just become another Chinese city if this bill is passed," one protester, 18-year-old Mike, told the BBC. | "Hong Kong will just become another Chinese city if this bill is passed," one protester, 18-year-old Mike, told the BBC. |
| Hong Kongers know how to protest | Hong Kongers know how to protest |
| In December 2014, as police dismantled what remained of a pro-democracy protest site in central Hong Kong, demonstrators chanted: "We'll be back." | In December 2014, as police dismantled what remained of a pro-democracy protest site in central Hong Kong, demonstrators chanted: "We'll be back." |
| The fact that protests have now returned is not necessarily surprising. There's a rich history of dissent in Hong Kong, stretching back further even than the past few years. | The fact that protests have now returned is not necessarily surprising. There's a rich history of dissent in Hong Kong, stretching back further even than the past few years. |
| In 1966, demonstrations broke out after the Star Ferry Company decided to increase its fares. The protests escalated into riots, a full curfew was declared and thousands of troops took to the streets. | In 1966, demonstrations broke out after the Star Ferry Company decided to increase its fares. The protests escalated into riots, a full curfew was declared and thousands of troops took to the streets. |
| Protests have continued since 1997, but now the biggest ones tend to be of a political nature - and bring demonstrators into conflict with mainland China's position. | Protests have continued since 1997, but now the biggest ones tend to be of a political nature - and bring demonstrators into conflict with mainland China's position. |
| While Hong Kongers have a degree of autonomy, they have little liberty in the polls, meaning protests are one of the few ways they can make their opinions heard. | While Hong Kongers have a degree of autonomy, they have little liberty in the polls, meaning protests are one of the few ways they can make their opinions heard. |
| There were large protests in 2003 (up to 500,000 people took to the streets and led to a controversial security bill being scrapped) and annual marches for universal suffrage - as well as memorials to the Tiananmen Square crackdown - are fixtures of the territory's calendar. | There were large protests in 2003 (up to 500,000 people took to the streets and led to a controversial security bill being scrapped) and annual marches for universal suffrage - as well as memorials to the Tiananmen Square crackdown - are fixtures of the territory's calendar. |
| The 2014 demonstrations took place over several weeks and saw Hong Kongers demand the right to elect their own leader. But the so-called Umbrella movement eventually fizzled out with no concessions from Beijing. | The 2014 demonstrations took place over several weeks and saw Hong Kongers demand the right to elect their own leader. But the so-called Umbrella movement eventually fizzled out with no concessions from Beijing. |