• Tension: Trump provokes anger in China by passing a Law to Support Hong Kong's protests

After a glass window, hundreds of plastic figures summarize what has happened in Hong Kong during the last six months. There are riot police with their shields and protesters dressed in black dressed in antique masks. Even journalists with their identifying yellow vest. None measures more than a little finger. They are perfect recreations that sell for 15 euros in one of the Tai Yuen toy stores.

Two miles away, in the Victoria Park, within the commercial district of Causeway Bay, the "Glory to Hong Kong" sounds. It sounds loud, in a loop. It is the anthem of the protests . The old Alma Chan (84 years old), climbed on a stage, distributes black posters in which you can read "The Party of Democracy". When he sees her, the young Theresa (16 years old), who bears a US flag, hugs him. "We will not let them beat us. We will never give up," he whispers in her ear.

Two weeks ago Hong Kong called for democracy at the polls. The voice and vote of an angry people pushed away barricades and put out a fire that seemed perennial. They responded with a democratic slap, without violence, arrows or Molotov cocktails . And they won. Then they warned that they would return to take the streets peacefully. And so they have done during the day this Sunday. Elder Alma and teenager Theresa have left. Julia and her daughter Tou also, both with umbrellas despite the sun, in homage to that movement that began five years ago and that today has evolved into mass protests against China's authoritarianism .

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets for more than four hours in what they have called a "democratic march" to commemorate World Human Rights Day, celebrated next Tuesday. Also to remember that they have been taking a pulse to Beijing for just six months. The authorities of the former colony gave the green light to the Civil Front of Human Rights, organizer of the first marches in the former colony, to celebrate this great demonstration.

"It's amazing what is happening here. We only ask that China listen to us and attend to our demands. We want a complete democracy," says lawyer Calvin Lo, which shows a banner that also condemns China's abuses against the Muslim minority of Uyghurs and Tibetans.

When the sun goes down, the flashlights of the mobiles have lit the crowd following the march. It is then that clashes have begun near the Central Metro between the riot police to control the demonstration and some activists . Above all, the youngest kids, who have destroyed some premises and formed barricades. Even so, in some areas where there were altercations, more journalists and cameras were seen than violent protesters.

Six months of tension

Although, for a moment, many looked back weeks ago, when Hong Kong became the Age of Empires . In a medieval strategy game that moved to modern China. On one side, the men in black and masks. With them came bows and arrows. Then the catapults that threw fireballs. And finally, the stone walls raised by hand. On the other side were the soldiers with a helmet and gun, sent by the king of kings to regain lost territorial and ideological control.

Leaving the anachronisms behind, the truth is that in these months the fire has taken over Hong Kong. Cars, trains, universities, restaurants have burned ... even people. Ask the 57-year-old torch-man who reproached the violent attitude of protesters and they ended up spraying it with a flammable liquid and setting it on fire.

The financial epicenter of Asia entered into a loop of violence since China wanted to impose more control over one of its wayward sons, who since he ceased to be a British colony in 1997 lives with a special administrative regime away from the tentacles of Beijing.

The protests began in June with a main objective: that the government withdraw a controversial bill that would have allowed the extradition of fugitives to mainland China. Critics feared that Beijing could use the bill to prosecute people for political reasons. Just six months ago, one in seven Hong Kong residents took to the streets in a massive peaceful march. Days later, on June 12, during another march, riot police responded with tear gas and heavy loads.

In the end, the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, got the law down. But it was not enough because the protesters had already embraced four other demands that they were not going to release: withdraw the qualifying "revolt" to the protests of June 12, which entails penalties of 10 years in prison to those detained in the marches of that day; investigate police abuses during protests, freedom for them and have complete universal suffrage so that the people can also choose the chief executive.

"A horizontal movement"

As clashes between protesters and police became more frequent, protests began to spread throughout the city. And in August there was a general strike , the airport and roads were blocked. In September the riots continued. And in October came the first police shooting and the anti-masks law of Carrie Lam, resurrected from the British colonial era to ban the use of any object that hinders the identification of the protester. Also the celebration of the 70 years of the Communist Party and the battle in nine districts.

"We organize without hierarchies or leaders. Communicating on Telegram and discussing our actions by consensus in various forums. The success has been that we have created a horizontal movement," explains Max, one of the protesters.

In November everything went worse . The first dead man arrived, Alex Chow, a 22-year-old boy who fell from a third floor of a parking lot. Then we saw scenes of a policeman shooting at an activist. And how a 70-year-old man who worked in cleaning collecting the debris from the road was thrown at the head. The man died, becoming the second fatality as a result of chaos.

The month continued with the clashes at the Polytechnic University. The most radical protesters embraced the university campus as their battle trench , their refuge to rest, eat, arm and train. Here we saw the scenes of the bows, arrows, catapults ...

But the elections came to the district councils and everything calmed down. For the first time in a long time, the battle at the barricades gave way to the polls. And the pro-Democratic candidates won 387 seats of the 452 at stake in an election with a record 71.2%. What was at stake was plebiscite to the pro-Beijing authorities, a sample with ballots of real support for the protests. And the support was overwhelming. That is why, above all, the victory of those who embrace democracy was moral. And this Sunday they have shown it with a massive demonstration that will be remembered.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Hong Kong
  • China
  • Asia
  • World

Economic impact: Hong Kong, so the financial capital of Asia drowns

Violent revolt: Hong Kong's 'torch man'

AsiaMacao denies entry to the president of the US Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong