By Jaclyn Quan

Staffwriter  

   Increasing violence and police brutality during the ongoing democratic protests in Hong Kong reached its peak on Oct. 1 when a protestor Tsang-Chi Kin was shot in the chest by a police officer during a confrontation. He was taken to the hospital, where he recovered shortly after. 

     Excess violence conducted by the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) has become a major issue during the demonstrations by causing riots. Many protests have also been tear gassed, pepper-sprayed, and beaten. 

       “They treated me like a dead object,” stated protestor and college student Ali Li as she recounted her encounter with four policemen, who pinned her and pepper-sprayed her in the face.

     The recent demonstrations were the results of a proposed extradition bill that was announced back in February. It was a response to the murder of a 20 year-old Hong Kong woman, who was killed last year by her boyfriend while they were vacationing in Taiwan. Because the killing took place in Taiwan, Hong Kong’s judicial system could not charge the boyfriend with the murder due to their current extradition laws.

     Extradition is defined as the act where one jurisdiction delivers an accused or convicted person in another jurisdiction. Currently, Hong Kong has bilateral extradition treaties with 20 countries, which includes the US and UK. However, they do not have extradition agreements with Taiwan, mainland China, and other Chinese territories. Although it is a Chinese territory itself since 1997, Hong Kong has been able to preserve their democratic form of government from China’s authoritarian government under a system known as the “one country, two systems” policy.

  Under the new bill, otherwise known as the Fugitive Ordinance Bill, criminals would to be sent to mainland China to face trial and be prosecuted. Since the bill’s announcement, many Hong Kong citizens expressed their disapproval and argued that allowing China to influence Hong Kong’s judiciary will undermine the territory’s freedom and sovereignty. 

   “[There’s] no fair trial, there’s no humane punishment, and there’s no separation of powers,” pro-democracy legislator Claudia Mo commented on the Chinese government. 

     Protests took place as early as March. The largest protest occurred on June 9 when approximately two million people took to the streets to rally against the bill. After months of protest, on June 15, Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, announced to suspend the bill. It wasn’t until Sept. 4 when the bill would be completely withdrawn. 

     Demonstrations ensued throughout the summer and into the fall despite the government’s effort in halting actions made to the bill. For many people, the main goal is to not only get the legislation withdrawn, but also for Carrie Lam to step down as chief executive, an independent inquiry into police brutality, and for free elections. 

    Pro Democracy activist Joshua Wong stated, “Through these protests, we tell the whole world that Hong Kong people won’t be silent under the suppression of President Xi Jinping and Carrie Lam.”