- What’s happening: Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to push back against protests over a controversial extradition bill in Hong Kong today. The city’s police commissioner has labelled the demonstration a “riot.”
- Why now? Lawmakers were set to debate the bill, which would enable China to extradite fugitives from Hong Kong, in a Legislative Council session on Wednesday morning. That meeting was postponed.
- What the bill could mean: Critics say the bill will leave anyone on Hong Kong soil vulnerable to being grabbed by the Chinese authorities for political reasons or inadvertent business offenses, and it would undermine the city’s semi-autonomous legal system.
Hong Kong protests over China extradition bill
Extradition bill ignites new round of Hong Kong protests
02:05 • Source: CNN
Extradition bill ignites new round of Hong Kong protests
02:05
At least two people are in serious condition in Hong Kong hospitals after a long day and night of violence between police and protesters.
An estimated 5,000 riot police fired tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bags at tens of thousands of protesters as they forcibly cleared streets around the city’s Legislative Council in Admiralty.
Confrontations went late into the night as crowds of mostly young, college-aged protesters were pushed back from the Legislative Council complex towards the city’s Central district.
At least 79 people were injured in the violence, with two remaining in serious condition, according to a spokesman for Hong Kong’s information bureau.
There was an extremely heavy police presence around the Legislative Council building and the city’s Admiralty area Thursday morning. It remained unclear whether lawmakers would attempt to restart a second reading of a hugely controversial extradition bill with China that sparked the protests, amid rumors the debate may be suspended.
Central government offices next door to the legislature were closed Thursday and Friday, according to a statement.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in Hong Kong on Wednesday, hours after tens of thousands of mostly young people surrounded the city’s government headquarters and postponed the debate over a controversial bill that would allow fugitives to be extradited to China.
We’re wrapping up our live coverage for the day, but keep reading CNN for more on the protests.
Here’s what happened Wednesday in Hong Kong:
- Violent clashes erupted: Rubber bullets, pepper spray and hand-thrown tear gas were used to push back protesters who had occupied the city’s main thoroughfare near the government headquarters, as well as the roads around it, Hong Kong Police Commissioner Steven Lo Wai-chung confirmed.
- The protest was deemed “a riot”: Lo said the demonstration was being considered a “riot.” He added that police had been left with “no choice but to start to use force.” Up to 5,000 police in riot gear were deployed to guard the building. Protesters were seen wearing helmets, goggles and heavy-duty workman’s gloves, and pulling bricks from the sidewalks.
- Debate over the bill was postponed: The city’s legislative council had been due to hold the second reading of the controversial bill Wednesday morning local time, but it was postponed. The bill has been met with widespread opposition, including from the city’s traditionally conservative business community.
- What officials are saying: Despite the mass demonstrations, Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam has refused to withdraw the extradition bill, saying it is needed to plug loopholes to prevent the city from becoming a haven for mainland fugitives.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he hopes things work out between the Chinese central government and Hong Kong demonstrators protesting changes to an extradition bill.
“I looked today and that really is a million people. A lot of times people talk about, they had 2,000 people but it was really 1,000 or it was 200. I see it all the time … but when you look at this demonstration, they said it was a million people. That was a million people,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Asked if protesters are sending a message to China with these demonstrations, Trump said, “I don’t know what they’re sending them. That’s a demonstration that they’re having. I understand the reason for the demonstration, but I’m sure they’ll be able to work it out. I hope they’ll be able to work it out with China.”
At least 72 people have been injured in Hong Kong protests over the bill.
The proposed law would allow Hong Kong to extradite fugitives to territories where it doesn’t have formal extradition deals, including mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.
Opponents of the bill say it could mean democracy activists, journalists and foreign business owners could be surrendered to mainland China.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is standing firm in her support for the proposed extradition bill despite mounting pressure and death threats.
A little about Lam: Lam was chosen as the fourth Hong Kong chief executive in 2017 by a tiny election committee, becoming the city’s first female leader. Following the election, however, protestors argued the decision saying it was a “selection rather than an election.”
Why she supports the bill: Now, amid more turmoil, Lam admits that the new bill is controversial, but said safeguards have been added to the bill to protect human rights. These comments have done nothing to quell opposition.
Lam said the bill is needed to plug legal loopholes and prevent Hong Kong from becoming a haven for fugitives. Critics of the bill fear it will allow China to extradite to the mainland to face trial. The bill is expected to get a final vote as early as next Thursday.
Lam addressed citizens in a pre-recorded address Wednesday, where she “condemned” the actions of protesters and defended the actions of the police.
Lam and the Hong Kong government had not acknowledged the divided opinion of amendments to the extradition bill until today. But, Lam did say she understood “the bill has aroused strong opinions from both sides.”
At least 72 people have been treated at hospitals for injuries sustained in the Hong Kong protests, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Information Bureau tells CNN.
The ages of the injured range from 15 to 66 years old.
Of the 72 injured, 50 are male and 22 are female.
Injury breakdown:
- 2 males are in serious condition
- 14 males in stable condition
- 5 females in stable condition
- The condition of 10 people is unknown
There have not been any deaths, the spokesperson said. It is unknown if any of the injured are police.
Amnesty International said police’s use of forces against protesters in Hong Kong is “a violation of international law,” adding that officers have “taken advantage of the violent acts of a small minority as a pretext to use excessive force against the vast majority.”
Earlier today, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to push back against protesters rallying against a controversial extradition bill.
“The ugly scenes of police using tear gas and pepper spray against overwhelmingly peaceful protesters is a violation of international law. Police have a duty to maintain public order, but in doing so they may use force only when strictly necessary. Hong Kong’s police have today failed to live up to this standard,” Man-Kei Tam, Director of Amnesty International Hong Kong, said in a statement.
The statement continued:
The massive protests in Hong Kong have centered on a controversial extradition bill.
The proposed law would allow Hong Kong to extradite fugitives to territories where it doesn’t have formal extradition deals — including mainland China.
Critics believe the bill would will leave anyone on Hong Kong soil vulnerable to being grabbed by Chinese authorities. But supporters said it will prevent the city from becoming a haven for mainland fugitives.
Here’s a look at the parties on both sides:
Who’s against the bill
- Civil rights activists: Critics say the bill will leave anyone on Hong Kong soil vulnerable to being grabbed by the Chinese authorities for political reasons or inadvertent business offenses and undermine the city’s semi-autonomous legal system.
- Businesses and trade unions: More than 100 firms said they would shut doors Wednesday to protest the bill and allow employees to join a rally outside the legislature. Trade unions have also suggested they might call on members to stop work in protest.
- Journalists: Earlier this year, the Hong Kong Journalists Association said in a statement that the amendment would “not only threaten the safety of journalists but also have a chilling effect on the freedom of expression in Hong Kong.”
- Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tweeted in support of the anti-extradition protests: “I stand shoulder to shoulder with the hundreds of thousands in #HongKong fighting the extradition bill & for rule of law. Please know you are not alone. #Taiwan is with you! The will of the people will prevail!”
- European and US agencies: Representatives from the European Union have met with Hong Long leaders and expressed concern over the bill. Members of the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China have also spoken out against the bill, warning it could “negatively impact the relationship between the United States and Hong Kong.”
And who’s for it
- Hong Kong’s leader: Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has refused to withdraw the extradition bill, saying it is needed to plug loopholes to prevent the city from becoming a haven for mainland fugitives.
- China’s Foreign Ministry: Chinese officials have supported the Hong Kong government as it attempts to table to the bill in Parliament.
Protesters in Hong Kong have spent days demonstrating against a proposed extradition law.
Here’s what you need to know about the bill:
- What the bill would do: The proposed law would allow Hong Kong to extradite fugitives to territories where it doesn’t have formal extradition deals, including mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.
- What it could could mean: Opponents of the bill say it could mean democracy activists, journalists and foreign business owners could be surrendered to mainland China.
- Why this issue is so sensitive: Remember: Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous city, which has a separate legal system and political system to mainland China. It allows citizens to enjoy freedoms not protected on the mainland. Although Hong Kong is part of China, it has separate laws that follow the UK system and no capital punishment, unlike mainland China.
Prominent Chinese artist Ai Weiwei said he totally opposes the controversial Hong Kong extradition bill and said he has no confidence in Hong Kong’s government.
”We have seen the Hong Kong people, young people mostly defending their rights. But this has to happen because no body trusts China’s judicial system,” he said.
About the bill: The proposed law would allow Hong Kong to extradite fugitives to territories where it doesn’t have formal extradition deals, including mainland China. Opponents of the bill say it could mean democracy activists, journalists and foreign business owners could be surrendered to mainland China.
Ai criticized the Hong Kong government, saying it has sided with the Chinese government. Here’s how he put it:
Protesters rallying against Hong Kong’s controversial extradition bill have been cleared from the Legislative Council building area — but thousands remain on the surrounding roads.
In front of City Hall, a large number of protesters are attempting to reinforce their improvised barrier across Harcourt Road.
In front of Pacific Place on Queensway, lines of police are holding the road in stages, while a couple thousand protesters gather in front of barricades.
CNN’s James Griffiths is on the ground. He says protests have stalled somewhat on Cotton Tree Drive and Queensway heading towards Central: Both groups of protesters have been fairly stationary for at least 30 mins.
CNN’s Julia Hollingsworth, who is also on the ground, says that though the number of protesters may have dropped from earlier in the day, there are still thousands spread across Admiralty and Central districts.
People are moving towards Central, with a much bigger crowd there at 8 p.m. local time than a few hours before.
Suki Ma, a 27-year-old building surveyor, said she wasn’t surprised the police used force, although she was quite angry.
Some background: Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in Hong Kong on Wednesday, hours after tens of thousands of mostly young people surrounded the city’s government headquarters. They’re rallying against a controversial bill that would allow fugitives to be extradited to China. Carrie Lam, the leader of Hong Kong, has defended the bill.
Ma said she will keep fighting until the end, as she believes this will be Hong Kong’s last protest, although she doesn’t plan to stay the night as it may be too dangerous.
“The Chinese government want to take our freedom,” she said. “We have freedom when we are born. After 1997 (when Hong Kong was handed back to China by the British), it was piece by piece removed from us.”
She didn’t believe the protests would ultimately change anything, but she came out anyway.
“We cant change the final ending. It will still be the same,” she said, referring to how Hong Kong would become completely part of China in the next few decades.
Hong Kong Pro-democracy lawmakers Claudia Mo and Roy Kwong held a press conference earlier today expressing solidarity with protesters and calling for Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to resign.
“Carrie Lam, have you gone crazy? You are now treating Hong Kongers as your enemy,” Kwong said during the presser. “You are declaring war on our generation. It is clear and simple … You said that if the mainstream opinion believed you were not fit to be the Chief Executive you would resign. Please fulfill your election promises.”
A spokesman for Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority said that 22 people had been injured in the protests on Wednesday, as of 6 p.m. local time.
He said there had been 16 men and 6 women injured, some of whom were still undergoing treatment while others were stable.
Separately a spokesman for the Information Services Department said 10 of the injured were stable, and six had already been discharged. The condition of six others was “unknown.”
So far, there have been no fatalities reported from Wednesday’s divisive protests.
The health authority spokesman said he didn’t know how badly the injured had been hurt or whether they were predominantly police or protesters.
Currently they are located at two hospitals in central Hong Kong – the Queen Mary and the Ruttonjee.
On the same day that protestors took to the streets of Hong Kong and a second reading of the Hong Kong bill was stalled, Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, said it is “undeniable that this law is controversial.”
In an interview with Hong Kong’s TVB, Lam conceded that “whether to set up this law or not for the good of Hong Kong, our view is like this: It is undeniable the law is controversial, allowing more explanations and discussions will be helpful, but it will not eliminate worries and controversies concerning the law completely.”
When asked about the protests, Lam said:
“They say I sold out Hong Kong, how could I?” she added. “I am born here and I live here with everyone I have sacrificed myself to Hong Kong.”
It’s 8 p.m. local time in Hong Kong, where protesters have been rallying all day against a controversial extradition bill.
Here’s what you need to know about the protests:
- What the protesters want: They’re demonstrating against a proposed law that would allow Hong Kong to extradite fugitives to territories where it doesn’t have formal extradition deals, including mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.
- What the bill could mean: Opponents of the bill say it could mean democracy activists, journalists and foreign business owners could be surrendered to mainland China. Remember: Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous city, which has a separate legal system and political system to mainland China. It allows citizens to enjoy freedoms not protected on the mainland.
- How police have reacted: Police have used tear gas and rubber bullets to push back against the protests. Hong Kong Police Commissioner Steven Lo Wai-chung classified the demonstrations as “a riot,” saying the police have “no choice but to start to use force.”
- What happens next? Hong Kong’s Legislative Council postponed a second debate of the contentious bill, blaming road blockage around the Legislative Council building due to tens of thousands of protesters.
Images from CNN’s Rusty Foulkes show Hong Kong police officers with their riot gear resting in the Legislative Council building.
Some 5,000 police officers were deployed to control the protesters today.
Desperate protesters pushed back by Hong Kong police were given some reprieve on Wednesday night, thanks to a local restaurant.
The chef came out with free hotdogs for protesters, telling the hungry Hong Kongers to take as many as they wanted.
“Take them so I can come back with some more,” the chef told them.
Thousands of protesters have now moved west to Hong Kong’s Central district, the city’s business and retail heart.
They have been pushed away from the Legislative Council building by police but say they will keep protesting here.
Crowds can be seen on Queens Road Central, with huge numbers sitting alongside supplies.
Most of these roads were empty earlier, as the point of the protest was to surround the Legislative Council building, not to disrupt the city’s Admiralty and Central districts.
On the Connaught and Pedder Street overpass, crowds have gathered and are yelling down to traffic below.
Protesters on Cotton Tree Drive are slowly being pushed uphill by police.
They are yelling at people on the walkway to leave before they get trapped by advancing law enforcement. The main crowd here is retreating up Cotton Tree Drive, which runs perpendicular to Harcourt Road and Queensway away from the government complex area.
One protester holds a radio to hear live updates from local media.
There is no official number of injured yet from the protests but reports are coming in of people being removed from the scene on stretchers.
Three ambulances were seen rushing towards Harcourt Road, the main site of Wednesday’s protests.
They struggled to get through the large numbers of Hong Kong police on the scene.
Elsewhere a man on a stretcher was seen being wheeled off past the high-end Pacific Place mall, which runs alongside the protest site.
Earlier in the day, Hong Kong Police Commissioner Steven Lo Wai-chung said an unspecified number of officers had been injured.