A reader — who we will not name, for obvious reasons — sent the photo above and those below from Hong Kong. He tells us these photos were taken outside and near his apartment building by his son.
He wanted our readers here to see what’s happening in the former British Colony as Hong Kongers protest and fight against domination from mainland China.
As the AP reports,
[M]ore than 1,000 people gathered Friday night at a public park near Hong Kong’s legislative complex, chanting “Fight for freedom.” Medical workers rallied earlier at the office of the hospital authority.
A protester runs with a United States flag as tear gas are released on protesters in Hong Kong on Monday, Aug. 5, 2019. Droves of protesters filled public parks and squares in several Hong Kong districts on Monday in a general strike staged on a weekday to draw more attention to their demands that the semi-autonomous Chinese city’s leader resign.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced two days ago that her government will formally withdraw an extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong residents to be sent to mainland China for trial. Many saw it as a glaring example of the city’s eroding autonomy since the former British colony returned to Chinese control in 1997.
The protest movement was triggered by the extradition bill, but the focus has since shifted to alleged excessive use of force by police in the increasingly violent clashes and to other issues.
Protesters have adopted a new slogan, “Five key demands, not one less.” They want an independent investigation into the allegations of police brutality, the unconditional release of those detained, no more labeling of the protests as riots, and direct elections of the city’s leaders.
Here are the photos sent by our reader:
We’re told this translates as either recover or reclaim Hong Kong.
