Hello My Dear Great Ones,
It has been an amazing couple of weeks in Hong Kong. The love that millions of Hong Kongers have for the city and their precious legal freedoms is awe inspiring. I am especially proud of the young people in Hong Kong who refuse to sit idly by as the government tries to push legislation through that could harm so many. There are Christians being persecuted and arrested in China. The potential of this happening in Hong Kong would become practically a reality if this extradition bill got through. Here is a newspaper article and media pictures from the demonstration on Sunday, June 16. A demonstration that may go down as one of the greatest demonstrations for democratic freedoms ever.
Nearly 2 million protesters flooded the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday, organisers claimed, delivering a stunning repudiation of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s governance and forcing a public apology out of the city’s leader over her campaign to bulldoze a controversial
through the legislature.
through the legislature.
A day after Lam suspended her push for the bill, expecting it to defuse a crisis that has seen violent clashes between mostly young protesters and police, the centre of Hong Kong was brought to a complete standstill as the masses marched to chastise her for refusing to withdraw the bill or apologise when first asked to, and declaring that nothing short of her resignation would satisfy them now.
Just the day before, Lam had said she would hit the pause button on the bill but take another shot at it to build a bigger consensus, as there was still a need to allow the transfer of fugitives to mainland China and other jurisdictions with which Hong Kong has no extradition deal.
A day later, six hours after protesters had transformed Central, Wan Chai and Admiralty into a sea of black, the public apology they were demanding came in the form of a government statement at night.
“The chief executive admitted that the deficiencies in the government’s work had led to substantial controversies and disputes in society, causing disappointment and grief among the people,” it read.
“[She] apologised to the people of Hong Kong for this and pledged to adopt a most sincere and
humble attitude to accept criticisms and make improvements in serving the public.”In a city polarised by politics for months over the extradition bill, this was the second Sunday in a row that historic numbers took to the streets to protest, but this time it was bigger and covered wider swathes of the city.
Braving the sweltering summer heat, wearing black to reflect their mood, Hongkongers of every age, profession and background, from every corner of the city, marched in a massive show of solidarity and defiance. “Don’t shoot our kids!” the crowd chanted. “Students are not rioters!”
They were out to condemn police for firing tear gas, rubber bullets and beanbag rounds at protesters last Wednesday, and to demand the government retract its categorisation of the violence as a riot.
Sammi Lee, 35, said she was touched by the commitment of young people on the streets to their cause against the bill.
“The police should be professional. Why did they treat young people and media workers with such violence and rudeness?” she said. “Young people have already came out on the streets. As an adult, I have no excuse not to join.”
Christian groups were also out in force. Auxiliary bishop of Hong Kong Joseph Ha Chi-shing called on followers to take to the streets to wake up people in authority and ask police to show restraint.
“We need to be the light in the world amid the darkness,” he said. “Victory is conscience and peace.”
Next week Celia and I will be in Africa where the internet is pretty bad. As a result the Rice Chronicles will probably take a break for a couple of weeks.
Have a great 2 or 3 weeks.
Love adios and ping on!
Dirk
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