Protest demonstration in Hong Kong - 1 million people opposed to a law to extradite suspects to mainland China

One million Hong Kong people protested on 9th June 2019 (source Mingpao)

Hong Kong people took to the street on 9.6.2019

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following

香港で抗議デモ、１００万人参加か　中国本土への容疑者移送条例に反対

2019.06.10 Mon posted at 11:14 JST

  香港で大規模デモ、「逃亡犯条例」に反対

香港（ＣＮＮ） 香港で９日、容疑者の身柄を中国本土へ移送できるようにする「逃亡犯条例」に抗議する大規模デモが行われ、主催者発表で１００万人以上が参加した。

これほどの大規模デモは、香港が１９９７年に中国に返還されて以来、初めてとなる。主催団体の「民間人権陣線」は、１０３万人がデモ行進を行ったと発表した。香港の人口７４８万人のうち、７人に１人以上が参加した計算になる。

一方、香港警察の推計では、参加者は２４万人だった。

同条例案に対しては、香港住民が政治的理由、あるいはビジネス上の不注意による罪に問われて中国当局に引き渡される恐れがあり、香港の高度な自治を認めた司法制度の弱体化につながるとして、反対の声が強まっていた。

９日午後、主催団体指定の白い服装で香港中心部にあるビクトリア公園に集まった参加者は、プラカードを掲げ、「香港住民よ、あきらめるな」と声を上げた。

「悪の条例を撤回せよ」「中国への移送反対」と叫び、林鄭月娥行政長官の辞任を要求する声も上がった。参加者は、金鐘（アドミラルティ）地区の立法会（議会）まで約３キロをデモ行進した。

香港警察はツイッターを通じ、少なくとも７人を逮捕したことを明らかにした。

警察によれば、現地時間の午後７時半ごろ、マスク姿の男５～６人が市内の幹線道路を占拠しようとした。警察は、催涙スプレーを使ってデモ隊を解散させたとしている。

日中のデモは大部分が平穏に行われたが、夜に入ると警察が警棒を振るってデモ隊を排除しようとする場面もあった。

香港の民主化団体の発表によると、逃亡犯条例案に抗議するデモは９日にオーストラリアでも行われて数千人が集まったほか、同様のデモ行進が世界各地で計画されている。

午後１０時半ごろには、主催団体が抗議デモの終了を発表した。このころまでには参加者の大半が解散し、立法会周辺は大勢の人でごった返した。

香港政府は同日遅く発表した声明の中で、香港全土で抗議デモが行われていることを認めた上で、条例案を巡る審議は予定通り１２日に再開すると強調した。

声明では、「香港が住民とビジネスにとって安全な都市であり続けるために、立法会が平穏かつ理性的な姿勢で敬意をもって法案の審議に当たるよう求める」としている。

Translation

Protest demonstration in Hong Kong - 1 million people opposed to extraditing suspects to mainland China

2010.06.10 Mon posted at 11:14 JST

Hong Kong (CNN) On the 9th in Hong Kong, a large-scale demonstration was held protesting the "Fugitive bill" which would allow the transfer of suspects to mainland China, and more than 1 million people had participated as announced by the organizers.

Such a large-scale demonstration was the first since Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997. The organizer the “Civil Human Rights Front” announced that 1.03 million people had marched. Of the 7.48 million people in Hong Kong, more than one in seven people was included.

On the other hand, according to Hong Kong police estimates, 240,000 people participated.

Under such a bill, there was a risk that Hong Kong residents could be handed over to the Chinese authorities for charges on business inattention and the like for political reasons. As it would weaken the judicial system that allowed Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, opposite voices were intensifying.

On the 9th, participants gathered in Victoria Park at the central part of Hong Kong wearing white clothes as designated by the organizers, they were raising placards and chanting, " Hong Kong residents, don't give up."

There were voices calling for the "withdraw the evil bill" and "against transferring to China," and calling for the resignation of Lín Zhèng Yuè'é the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The participants marched about 3 kilometers to the legislative body located at the Admiralty district.

Hong Kong police revealed through Twitter that they had arrested at least seven people.

According to the police, around 7:30 pm local time, five or six men in masks were trying to occupy the city's highway. Police used tear sprays to break up protesters.

Most of the daytime demonstrations were quiet, but in the evening, there were occasions when the police waved a baton and tried to disperse the protesters.

According to a Hong Kong democracy group's announcement, protests against this 'fugitive bill' were held in Australia on the 9th, thousands of people gathered, and similar demonstrations were planned around the world.

At around 10:30 pm, the organizers announced the end of the protests. By this time most of the participants had broken-up, and the area around the legislature was crowded with lots of people.

The Hong Kong government, in a statement issued late on the same day, acknowledged that protests were taking place throughout Hong Kong, and emphasized that deliberations over the draft bill would be resumed on the 12th as scheduled.

The statement said, "In order to keep Hong Kong a safe city for residents and business, we ask the legislature to consider the bill in a calm and rational manner and with respect."

Such a large-scale demonstration was the first since Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997. It indicates the strong objection of the Hong Kong people towards the bill which would allow the transfer of suspects to the mainland of China for trial. Hong Kong people always have a suspicion on getting a fair trial under China’s legal system.