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Hong Kong Protesters Draw a Red Line With China

Hong Kong Protesters Draw a Red Line With China

(Bloomberg) --

China has been steadily tightening its grip on Hong Kong with little challenge. Now hundreds of thousands in the city are fighting back. 

Hong Kong is bracing for a potentially historic showdown over a law that could see residents extradited to the mainland, a move that risks further eroding the city’s autonomy. Organizers of yesterday’s protest against the bill put the crowd at 1 million, while police said 240,000 showed up.

Either way it amounted to one of the financial hub’s biggest-ever demonstrations, and tensions are heating up. Protesters have vowed to surround the legislature on Wednesday, when lawmakers will debate the bill to clear some procedural steps.

Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, defended the legislation during a 45-minute press briefing today, saying it was necessary to ensure criminals can’t escape justice. Amendments were introduced to protect human rights, she said, adding that Beijing didn’t instruct her to push for the law.

More protests are planned this week. But with Beijing today signalling its support for Lam — which suggests she won't back down on the law or be forced to resign — even continued rallies and the concern of big companies operating in Hong Kong may not prevent the slow transformation of the former British colony into just another Chinese city. 

Hong Kong Protesters Draw a Red Line With China

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Hong Kong Protesters Draw a Red Line With China

--With assistance from Kathleen Hunter, Enda Curran and Tim Ross.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Karl Maier at kmaier2@bloomberg.net

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