Hong Kong airport sees demonstrators gathering to mark the start of unauthorised rallies

Friday, August 9, 2019

To raise awareness among international visitors, activists dressed in black sat in the arrivals halls and waved banners.

Honk Kong has been reeling under protests for weeks due to anger over an extradition bill which took the shape of demands for greater freedoms.

Hong Kong has a free press and judicial independence under the ‘one country, two systems’ approach and freedom activists fear is being increasingly eroded.

Hong Kong is a former British colony, a part of China which enjoys more autonomy.

During the protests an independent inquiry into the alleged police brutality has been called seeking the complete withdrawal of the controversial extradition bill along with the resignation of Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam.

Demonstrators were warned by Beijing not to ‘play with fire’ or to ‘underestimate the firm resolve of the central government’.

Throughout the weekend the demonstrators plan to stay at the airport and waving banners in different languages denouncing Carrie Lam and the police.

They handed out leaflets with artwork to explain the recent protests, so far the authorities had tolerated the peaceful rally which had overly disrupted the passengers.

At the moment there are no police at the scene and till the time police do not show up it will be a peaceful protest.It was announced by the Hong Kong Airport Authority that it would ‘operate normally’ despite the planned demonstrations.

On 26^th July there was  a demonstration at the airport without violence.The latest country to issue a travel warning for the territory was the U.S.

Alan Lau the former deputy police commissioner was brought out of the retirement to help handle protests in the territory.

In 2014 the commander is known to oversee Hong Kong’s pro-democracy rallies.Regarding the continuing demonstrations Beijing has issued increasing stern warnings and the military released a video showing them to conduct anti-riot drills.

It was shown in the footage that heavily armed troops descended from helicopters and shooted their way through the streets into the people’s homes.

Demonstrations began in opposition against a proposed extradition bill, which would have allowed suspected criminals to be sent to mainland China for trial.

Critics said it would undermine Hong Kong’s legal freedoms, and could be used to silence critics.

Police were then accused of using excessive force against protesters. Even though Hong Kong authorities agreed to suspend the bill, demonstrations continued, with calls for it to be fully withdrawn and for an independent investigation into police actions.

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