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From the Globe and Mail:
Hong Kong is continuing to fight for the existence of democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong and against the influence of an authoritarian police state. 1/7 of Hong Kong's population is protesting this legislation, there is no support from Hong Kongers, they are lying when the leaders say China had no influence on this, there is no other reason for it to exist. The West failed Hong Kong in 1997, instead of standing up for democracy and freedom they instead handed Hong Kong over to the Chinese, they should have been made a city-state with a guarantee of protection by the West like Taiwan and is now sitting idly by as China takes more and more control.
The government of Hong Kong will continue with plans to pass new extradition rules with China’s blessing, after Beijing dismissed a massive Hong Kong protest Sunday as the product of foreign interference.
“While we will continue to do the communication and explanation, there is very little merit to be gained to delay the bill. It will just cause more anxiety and divisiveness in society,” Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Monday. She pledged to clarify certain parts of the proposed legislative changes, which will ease the way for people in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China, and also promised regular reports about the implementation of the changes.
The bill is scheduled for a second reading in the city’s Legislative Council on Wednesday, with critics saying they intend to stage further protests.
Ms. Lam said the Sunday demonstration – with more than a million people on the streets, according to organizers, although police estimated the crowd as a quarter that size – showed that “people are still concerned,” but stood fast to her arguments that Hong Kong must have a way to extradite people to jurisdictions with which it does not have formal agreements.
“This bill is not about [the] mainland alone,” Ms. Lam said. “This bill is not initiated by the Central People's Government. I have not received any instruction or mandate from Beijing to do this bill. We were doing it and we are still doing it out of our clear conscience and our commitment to Hong Kong.”
But the proposed extradition rules have raised fears that Hong Kong is racing to bring its independent legal system into much greater proximity with that of China, where courts operate under the guidance of the Communist Party. Those in Hong Kong wary of mainland influence have already watched with worry as China has built a new bridge and high-speed rail links to the city, as President Xi Jinping moves quickly to more tightly integrate Hong Kong with neighbouring Chinese cities.
Beijing has offered stalwart support for the bill and for Ms. Lam herself, after protesters demanded her resignation.
Hong Kong is continuing to fight for the existence of democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong and against the influence of an authoritarian police state. 1/7 of Hong Kong's population is protesting this legislation, there is no support from Hong Kongers, they are lying when the leaders say China had no influence on this, there is no other reason for it to exist. The West failed Hong Kong in 1997, instead of standing up for democracy and freedom they instead handed Hong Kong over to the Chinese, they should have been made a city-state with a guarantee of protection by the West like Taiwan and is now sitting idly by as China takes more and more control.