Protesters rallying against extradition bill in Hong Kong. (Image by May James / Shutterstock.com)

The escalated protests in Hong Kong over the contentious extradition Bill – as recently as Mon (1 Jul) – could potentially serve as a stain on the city’s reputation as a world-renowned financial and business hub, said China Communist Party’s newspaper The People’s Daily.
Reuters reported that the editorial, published on Wed (3 Jul), suggested that the protests in Hong Kong are an “undisguised challenge” to China’s method of governing the Special Administrative Region, which rests upon the “one country, two systems” model.
“It is not surprising there are some disagreements and even major disputes about certain issues, but if we fall into the whirlpool of ‘overpoliticization’ and artificially create division and opposition, it will not only serve no purpose, but will also severely hinder economic and social development,” said The People’s Daily.
The daily added that Hong Kong “cannot bear turbulence and internal friction” in addition to the challenges posed against the city by a disruption in global markets as a result of rapid technological advancements and increased global competition.
The protests on Mon saw hundreds of protestors taking siege of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council building and breaking into the building, shortly following of the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China by the British in 1997.
While many protestors remained peaceful, even the Hong Kong emblem was not spared from being defaced by several protestors. Journalists were also subjected to verbal and physical abuse by several such protestors who are reportedly pro-police, according to South China Morning Post.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association and the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association in a joint statement had strongly condemned the abuses levied by certain protestors against journalists covering the latest protest.
The groups said that the demonstrators had been “jeopardising [journalists’] safety, dealing a blow to press freedom and also undermining the public’s right to know [about the anti-extradition Bill protests]”.
While the government has decided to suspend all Legislative Council debates on the extradition Bill, many Hong Kongers continue to demand a full withdrawal of the Bill and also the resignation of Beijing-backed Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who appears adamant on holding on to her position.
Concerns were raised over the scope of powers that will be granted upon certain jurisdictions Hong Kong decides to extradite crime suspects to – particularly mainland China – should the amendment bill be passed, as certain factions remain sceptical of Beijing’s capacity to refrain from abusing the extradition arrangements.
Amnesty International warned that the proposed legislation “would extend the ability of the mainland authorities to target critics, human rights activists, journalists, NGO workers and anyone else in Hong Kong”.
Raymond Chan Chi-chuen of the pro-democracy party People Power told SCMP that while a delay may be helpful in the short term, “it will not work, as long as they don’t retract the bill”.
“People are ready for further action,” said Chan.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

McDonald’s Singapore suspends all restaurant operations, assures it will continue to pay employees

McDonald’s Singapore has suspended its restaurant operations in all its outlets, including…

HSBC恐裁员4000人 或将针对高层主管开刀

香港最大银行汇丰控股(HSBC)周一(5日)宣布,预计裁员千4000名员工,并将放缓投资开支。据最新的季度报告指出,全球经济前景正在恶化,截至2018年,汇丰银行共有23万5217名员工,将多达2巴仙的员工可能失去工作。 财务董事邵伟信(Ewen Stevenson)在电话会议上表示,将针对“高层主管”进行裁员,裁员加上自然流失,可望节省高达4巴仙工资成本。 汇丰银行则续指,今年的遣散费或将从6.5亿美元(约8.9 亿新元)上升至7亿美元(约9.7亿新元)。 对此,汇丰银行亦透露详细裁员细节,包括裁员行动和是否会涉及新加坡分行。 汇丰控股集团主席杜嘉祺(Mark Tucker)表示,“新加坡是其中八个投资战略国之一,是我们于亚洲与东南亚国家中相当重视的发展,故会持续聚焦与支持新加坡的业务。 而汇丰银行首席执行官范宁(John Flint)于周一(5日)无预警宣布辞任,范宁于去年2月上任,在位仅18个月。 据《路透社》引述爆料者指出,他的辞任相信与长期以来向高层管理人员施压,要求减低成本以求盈利增长,该项决策与汇丰控股集团主席有所出入。 随着中美贸易战升级,货币政策周期放缓、香港局势的动荡以及脱欧,汇丰银行预测未来业务前景会更加暗淡。…

Low Thia Khiang explains his decision to move out of Hougang

Loke Hoe-Yeong/ Low Thia Khiang emphasized from the outset that he had…

雇佣补贴计划延长 未能复工企业可获75巴仙雇佣补贴

副总理兼财政部长王瑞杰,今午3时30分,在国会发表330亿元的“坚毅向前”预算案(Fortitude Budget),协助保障人民生活、提供企业和工友适应或转型。 他提及当前全球经济不明朗,包括贸工部今早下调今年经济预测,到负4至负7巴仙。今年三月份的居民失业率也增至3.3巴仙,是2009年12月以来的新高。 王瑞杰称,对于在6月1日后仍不准复工的企业,能获得75巴仙的雇佣补贴。 当局将延长雇佣补贴计划(JSS)至今年8月。他呼吁企业应善用这些资源,以提升员工技能、转型以适应后冠病世代,以及协助工友保住工作。 年长员工的公积金缴交率提升,将在2021年1月至2022年1月期间展延。 此外,律政部将推行立法,要求业主为那些严重受影响的中小企业租户,豁免租金。 连同此次的330亿元坚毅向前预算案,加上早前宣布的团结预算案(Unity Budget)、坚韧团结配套(Resilience Budget)和同舟共济配套(Solidarity Budget),政府为应对此次疫情,拨出共929亿新元。 政府预计大部分企业能在7月复工,对于仍深受影响企业如航空领域,根据企业和疫情情况,当局或将在提供额外辅助。