Hong Kong will mark five years since violent protests rocked the city and triggered sweeping changes to its political system. CNA's Deborah Wong takes a look back at how the events in 2019 changed the city.
CNA, your editing for this piece is rather off. You used snippets from violent rioters being chased by police which actually took place which actually took place weeks later and not immediately after the so called "peaceful march".
CCP engaging HK triads to bully attack and suppress HK ordinary citizens on subway station and streets was uncalled for! CNA should showcase those scenes to Singapore and Malaysia so people know who these so-called Chinese Mainland comrades 同胞 are!
Repost BY @jackychick I am a Hong konger, and it is absolutely ridiculous that the so-called resistance from activists were ALL supporting Hong Kong INDEPENDENCE. Only people who are nuts would think that is possible, yet almost all rioters as well as many protestors were demanding self determination like a referendum for independence. Almost all politicians from the so-called democratic party( in name only) broke the election laws on purpose and many were jailed subsequently despite repeated warnings from the government. Most of the activists who organised the protests were also trying to be famous in local media as they would be interviewed by many journalists and literally everyone of them tried to run for local elections ! Protests were simply tools for them to get media exposure. Western media in 2019 wanted to dump it down to communist sympathiers vs democracy protestors (blue and yellow ribbon in hong kong) when in fact the silent majority were both afraid of the communist AND they were even more afraid of fascist freedom fighters ( i.e the rioters) who hospitalised anyone that dared to exercise free speech and opposed their vandalism and violent protests. Doxxing was rampant as children and relatives of the police, or anyone who dared to oppose violent protests were threatened and their homes attacked. Many fled Hong Kong because they were arrested during the riots to escape potential prosecutions. what s the prosecution rate? out of 12000+ rioters, less than 1000 were sent to jail despite being caught red handed at the riots. Most were not even charged as you need beyond reasonable doubt in hong kong to prosecute a rioter. By wearing masks, most of them could not be identified even if they were arrested with rioting gears like helmets, huge umbrella on sunny day, protective gears etc. Out of every riot, e.g 300+ rioters, only 20+ would be arrested in the early months. i.e less than 10%. So out of 12000 people, with 99.3% of rioters got away with rioting as less than 1000 were jailed. This sad affair ultimately prompted Beijing to establish the national security law. So hong kongers could no longer legally commit treason, like flying to the Congress and demanding America to sanction hong kong and China if hong kong couldn't have a western style democracy. How many protestors were killed by the hong kong police during 5 months of protests and riots? ZERO. Did rioters kill anyone? One unarmed cleaner was murdered by a rioter in broad daylight as they got accustomed to throwing bricks at the police and they threw bricks at unarmed innocents for opposing violent protests. Another was set on fire and required multiple surgeries to survive. A total of at least 70+ unarmed innocents were severely hospitalised by rioters, a dozen required surgeries as the fascist mobs beat them to a pulp. Only a few were reported like they were isolated incidents when in fact the rioters brutality against unarmed innocents were happening EVERY SINGLE WEEK for FIVE months, terrorising millions of hong kongers. Solution? Many pretend to support them. e.g they stopped all the cars at motorways and demand drivers to donate money to their cause, so many simply shouted their protests slogans and they were immediately let go!
Massive people movement signified great unrests within the society. HK people did not want their homeland turned into just another province of CCP. I could post an excerpt from an opposing view as an antithesis to your repost above but here’s your ¥0.50, Wumao. 🪙
How many people know the real situation like you......sad. Many were led by these activists and most of them probably funded by foreign funds..........
What has changed? CIAs in HK sold their real estates and withdrew to Taiwan, escaped rioters spent all their money in UK and returned, cried landing at HK airport.
The 1 million alleged protesters cited by CNA was a western propaganda estimate. Nonody actually counted. I doubt the figure. Can you imagine a million people out in the streets attending a single event in Singapore? Not even for National Day. And the HK protest was supposed to be spontaneous!
maybe he is a Chinese bot 😅 Trying to make a favorable case for Communist China... No way a sane person will think that Communist China has more freedom than democratic countries, especially Singapore.
@JieweiXei. You miss the British colonial master, and the singing of God Save the Queen? You probably miss the old way of life, with its street food, etc. Don't confuse this with the old political life. Colonialism is gone forever. Good riddance, and don't pine for your colonial master.
@franz.k. Outside of US empire propaganda, you know nothing. Singapore's Internal Security Act (drafted by the British colonial master) and handling of security matters are even more severe than HK. The CIA insurgency in HK can never happen in Singspore. The ring leaders would be detained without trial before any such protest could take place.
@@katong1953 2 days ago, three Hongkongers were taken away during a soccer game. Two for not standing during national anthem, one for not facing the flag during national anthem. Sadly, the "Chinazi" era has begun in Hong Kong.
Really? You should go and talk to the peaceful pro Palestinian protesters in UK and USA who got arrested. Please look at what's happening across the world and in your own backyard before pointing fingers at China.
@peterl. That's better than being a first class colonial outpost. Other Chinese cities will still be there even if Hong Kong is a British colony today.
The CIA insurgency in HK was ended by Covid19! When the pandemic broke, the so-called brave fighters for freedom and democracy all scurried home, fearing for their lives! I still remember posting on youtube that heaven was on the side of China and HK.
What’s pathetic about this reporting Is that? You have other countries like Singapore, for example which has a similar kind of law and if not more stringent, even worse was the US patriot act. Previously Hong Kong had lots of freedoms but people were obeying the law even though it’s kind of unwritten, more like self-discipline and we didn’t have to have a written law to function for so many years
After 2023 with the imposition of National Security Law, Hong Kong can no longer pretend it is a “One Country Two Systems” SAR of the PRC and hope to continue to enjoy international perks and credibility. It is better for Hong Kong to admit it is now just one city of the PRC and comes to terms with it and accept its loss of free state status and hence the consequential loss of confidence of the world community.
Personally I feel the protesters are play big time by foreign power. Look at all the main activist....they benefited the most and where are they now? If China wanted to punished Hong Kong, they just need to cut off the water and food supply. But did they do it?
5 years later, life has returned to normal, no one threw bricks at police, and torched cars. Hong Kong continued to be a much safer city than San Francisco, New York, and Chicago where you see drug uses on major streets, rampant thefts, gun violence, homelessness, immigrants, and wokeness
@@xxoo-lp6vc Who wants freedom these days. Bread and butter and food on the table are more important!. Only fools still talk about freedom and democracy.
Hasn't exactly returned to normal since Hong Kong's new national security law was imposed on freedom loving Hong Kongers, effectively stopping them from protesting against Beijing's puppet government.
If you said foreign funded (approx 170Mn USD in 2019 from USA congress funded organisations ) and salaried individuals that engaged specifically in undermining the HK laws and also tried to recruit and subvert hk persons to break the law and caused nearly 1Bn USD of damage including explosives and over 1000 molatov cocktailes and the death of two elderly HK citizens who were attacked by a specific group of violent protestors merely because they were near the protest location and unprotected. I would say that is a more favtual report of the events that transpired.
What has changed.....a lot. Hong Kong is now very peaceful and the people can go about with their lives without any fear or lack of freedom going out, ironic.....
What have changed? The army of west spies, CIA included, left. The so called democracy defenders left or leaving. The British taipan is finished, so he cries. Of course, some HK competitors celebrate quietly when HK was in turmoil.
You sound like a communist yapper here. We will always commemorate histories be it good or bad, instead of sweeping things under the floor like. This writes an ugly page on CCP’s chapter, and you just don’t like the facts. Typical commies.
In 1964,the tension between Malay & Chinese race riot.23 people died,454 suffered severe injury,countless minor injuries, arrested over 5000. Also recently in 2013 riot, don't tell us you Singapore is a safe and free country.Besides your leader clobbered the so called communist faction?
They were not really communist but Lee Kwan Yew forcibly labelled them as such in order to imprison them and this get rid of the opposition - paving the way to a clear majority and stable government. Most of them were trade unionists, opposition members, academics, and a handful of socialist. Freedom? No, no freedom. Not freedom. It was a brutal means to gain power and control. But that was the past. The positive side of the story is that Singapore lived thru brutal years of suppression of any opposition and finally emerged as peaceful, secure and safe after a few years of hard struggle. So, please do not mention peace and freedom without reflecting on whether the path was really peaceful, freedom, just, fair etc. Be balanced. The young generation below 70 years old may find it hard to understand the full story.
@hongqi. Yes, it's odd to have foreign judges in your courts. A few days ago, a few of these judges resigned or retired, and one said China was making Hong Kong a dictatorship. Judges should know better and stick to the law, and not comment on political developments. Such white judges with superiority complex should go. RU-vid has censored me over 200 times. Western free speech my foot.
CNA How come Singapore Schools are also required to raise the Singapore Flag in their schools? What is the difference between Hong Kong and Singapore ?
Because as sly as PAP can some times be... they at least able to present a front of public consent. And the bigger your country is, the more local consent should matter. The CCP can't even do that, they just install their own people and bar those who would win from running. If you think that shouldn't matter, then neither does your approval or disapproval, since you already accepted that the State has the right to do anything without any concern or consent from the public. So why bother asking such question when you consider your opinion own shouldn't matter?
@@Zayn-jc4zt More importantly, the CCP just show to the whole world that there is no "One Country, Two Systems" and their word is as usual, of little value... granted that applies to most global 'powers' but if they are going to be so blatant, why even complain about poor reputation?
HK is ultimately a Chinese city. No national government would support separatist activity that is institutionally integrated. It is unreasonable to expect sedition within China as much as it is to expect it in any other country, the west included.
Except an International Agreement was signed with the UK and its registered with the UN. You are right it's just another Chinese ciry but the Chinese still expect HK to be treated favourably by the West. I work for the Foreign Direct Investment Review Board. In my country we have blocked investments from HK only to receive massive emails from. Yes you guessed the Chiense Central Government explaining how HK is different. When we assess Investments we refer to the Binding 1997 agreement, are you in compliance yes or no, if not we apply the same restrictions on control as mainland Chinese Investments.
The unkind hateful seditious people are also. Please put forth your arguments in plain sight and we all can have a public debate over it. The best is to hire a big auditorium and televise the debate.
U$A has the same law , but its policy is like ... "Itself can install lock for its house , but HK cannot install lock to prevent/protect/defend from U$A meddling "
US is saying "we have the right to meddle and disrupt your society but you must not resist/defy me" , this is the self-proclaimed world police policing the world all in the name of "freedom & human rights".
LOL you are insane if you think USA has the same restrictions of national security law. there are HAMAS supporters openly protesting in USA you think HKer can openly support China's enemies openly?
Happy 35th anniversary of crushing an American failed color revolution in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China. 🎉🎉🎉🎉 熱烈慶祝中國大陸在北京天安門廣場成功粉碎美國失敗的顏色革命的35周年 🎉🎉🎉🎉
What changed? HSI index plummeting nonstop. Hongkong rich people flocked to singapore. No people dares to speak the truth on media or simple street interview. Increasingly immigration out of hk
What changed? HSI index plummeting nonstop. My response: How about other indexes of other countries? You are bullshitting? Hongkong rich people flocked to singapore. .y response: Rich people from other countries also do the same. In particular, watch the outflow of citizens from western countries. Don't bluff. No people dares to speak the truth on media or simple street interview. My response: ALMOST NOBODY DARED NOT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE BLACK CLADDED HOOLIGANS. NOT TO SUPPORT MAY ENDANGER LIVES AND PROPERTIES. THIS US FAR WORSE THAN THE RED GUARDS REVOLUTION! THERE IS NOT AN IOTA OF CREEDOM UNDER THE FOREIGN INSPIRED THUGS. Increasingly immigration out of hk. My response: How about our if other countries? Buddy?
@@ericphua2359 what are you talking about young lad? You are the one who created chaos in HK riots 2019, destroying everything including HK economy ... You still lucky not get caught ... Blame yourself & your evil master US & UK who gave sanctions to HK, can't blame someone else ... Why don't you just move yourself to UK and the US if you think they are better, see if they can give and treat you equally ... I heard most of HKers in UK suffered, can't even get a proper job, lost everything after selling all their properties in HK, good of them, you should follow them soon better than keep your anger at home for no reason
If one thinks someone else who lives far far away, who doesn't share ANY cultural values with them, love them more than their own people (Chinese people), their own motherland, THINK again! As an asian immigrant living in western europe (due to education), I see this situation first and foremost.
Hong Kong 🇭🇰, as a financial center, is finished after China introduced the repressive "National Security" laws. - Talents have left. Businesses have closed. Millionaires have fled with their money. - Empty office buildings can be seen all over the former prosperous British colony.
😢😢😢diplomatic agreements are always the best solution, compromise and find a way to get along😢😢😢streets protests have to be avoided😢😢😢evil kind of people always take advantage to vandalize cities and ...when protesters get beated or tortured is... terrible. True political power is about...let anyone feel happy his own way. When I was a little girl schools used to organize Summer creative camps...out there in the countryside, refreshing meadows and feeling just fine singing along, everybody was happy. It takes nothing to start protests and... it's a very hard job to calm down everybody... much better if you have ...home works and things to do for people, mostly school and students, let them go creative🎉❤🎉 Summer holidays for students are the best reason to organize various contests, cartoons or video games ideas, inventions toys or gadgets...do not let them protest and get hurt Ok? TV Networks can help a lot
During the protest, pre-pandemic, I was in touch with some of my HK friends, who, without exception were in support of the protest. I actually told them that the protest was meaningless and that they would be lucky if China did not send in tanks like they did during Tianamen. They were actually not that well briefed about how the Basic Law and how the Handover came about. I followed the negotiations for the Handover and Basic Law in the early 1980s in the UK when Thatcher was negotiating it with Deng. Simply put, the Chinese thought that they were getting back HK in the same format existing during the negotiations, which was direct rule by way of an appointed leader. At that time, HK was ruled by a Governor General appointed by the UK. However, after the treaty was done and signed off, the UK government suddenly decided to set up a HK democratic legislative assembly to elect HK's leader, in essence handing over a poison pill to China. Of course China was furious about it but could not do anything as the treaty allowed UK to do that. Many commentators in UK at that time lambasted Thatcher's government for the pure hypocrisy of the move. As they rightly pointed out, HK had never ever had any democratic rights and any attempts to do so had being firmly quashed by the British as seditious during their rule! The British used the same sedition law that they had introduced into Malaysia and Singapore, and which long after their independence from the UK, continued to be use by both the Malaysian and Singaporean governments against their political opponents. Suddenly, after signing off the treaty with China and years of suppressing any democracy movement in HK, the British government decided to introduce democratic elections for HK's leadership, which was not what China had expected! In essence, the British had shafted China, again! HK was given to Britain as a result of the two Opium Wars where the British had fought China to continue as state sponsors in pushing opium into China. Read that shameful history of Britain's Opium Wars where it became the only country in history which became an international state-sponsored Opium pusher. I told my HK friends that did they expect UK or US to invade or challenge China militarily? Like they did in Vietnam, Afghanistan or Iraq? Those were minor countries with very weak military and financial clout. Which was not the case with China. www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/30/the-hong-kong-unofficials-who-advised-britain-on-the-handover-and-were-ignored "When the decision to relinquish Hong Kong in 1997 was finally announced on 20 April 1984, ironically it brought a sense of liberation to the advisers. Emboldened, a nine-member delegation - led by Chung - went to London to try to exert pressure on the government. But London was prepared. The press were briefed against them before their arrival and described their statement as “militant”. Their crucial questions to their colonial masters were: what would happen if China breached the Sino-British joint declaration? Would residents of Hong Kong be able to cast their vote on the joint declaration? If so, how? It was a controversial visit at home, too. Pro-Beijing newspapers accused the delegation of “spreading gloom in Hong Kong”, despite Hong Kong’s stock exchange index having already fallen by 200 points since the 20 April announcement. “We are here to try to reflect the Hong Kong people’s aspirations,” said Selina Chow, a member of the delegation, as reported by the Guardian on 13 May 1984. “We are asking the British government: ‘How are you going to fulfil your obligations to me? How are you going to protect me against these doubts?’” But before they received any answer from London, they were dismissed - including by their former boss, MacLehose, who by now had been given a life peerage. To Chung, it was unforgivable. “I shall never forget the words of the MPs who criticised us, saying that the unofficial members of the two councils were not elected so how could they represent Hong Kong? … I said to them: ‘How can you claim that you can negotiate for us? You have no mandate from us either; I never elected you,’” he later recalled to Tsang." As I kept reminding my HK friends during the protests, the Handover was negotiated by an Imperialist Conqueror and Colonist, which was never elected by HK! And who negotiated not what was in the best interest of HK but in the best interest of the UK. However, conveniently, both the HK younger generation and British commentators conveniently glossed over that!
😂the very serious Damage was done..... HK was already Hopeless and gone forever.... Why ? No more confidence for the Political, Economic and Social Environment of the HK Society. 😢
@tanjeffrey. You are telling us Hong Kong's problems, such as high housing prices, didn't exist when it was a colony. I visited Hong Kong 2 months ago. You should update your fairy tale.
How will SG government respond if such riots and violent street battles take place in downtown Singapore and in the educational institutions, I wonder.
