• China.The Chinese Parliament passes the Hong Kong Security Law
  • Diplomacy: US declares Hong Kong no longer enjoys the autonomy promised by China

Thousands of people in Hong Kong on Thursday night defied the ban on gathering, carrying candles to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre. During these past 31 years, Hong Kong was the only place on Chinese soil where mass gatherings were held on each anniversary. Instead, this time, the ex-colony police prohibited people from holding a vigil under the pretext that no more than eight people could gather due to the pandemic . Although behind this restriction many believed that there was the new Security Law approved last week in Beijing, which threatens the system of semi-liberties that this special administrative region enjoys.

Hong Kong people have occupied the same stage as other times, the football fields of Victoria Park, breaking the locks and jumping the fences that the police had put in the entrance so that no one would pass. Although attendance has been much lower than previous years. "Put an end to the government of a party" and "Democracy for China now" have been the most repeated slogans by those present.

Throughout the day, protesters who have been challenging Beijing for more than a year with pro-democracy proclamations encouraged Hong Kong people on social media to spread out around various parts of the city and hold candles in tribute to those killed by the Chinese army in Tiananmen. And so they did. Victoria Park was the busiest point, but large concentrations were also seen in other neighborhoods, bypassing the order of authorities who had deployed more than 3,000 riot officers throughout the city to deter protesters . Except for small isolated incidents due to road cuts, the day passed without confrontations.

Chinese anthem respect law

This Thursday, in addition, the controversial hymn law was voted in the Hong Kong Parliament, which will punish disrespect for the Chinese anthem. Any insult or whistle may carry a penalty of three years in prison or a fine of HK $ 50,000 (€ 5,800). The debate on this law had to be postponed a few hours after a pro-Democratic opposition lawmaker, Chu Hoi-dick, emptied a bottle of a "smelly liquid" (as described by local media for referring to a fertilizer) in the camera.

After parliamentary security kicked him out, Chu said his action was a protest against the national anthem bill, as well as a reminder of the Tiananmen massacre. "We must never forgive the Communist Party that killed its own people 31 years ago without holding anyone accountable. Such a shameful regime sucks forever," he said.

Finally, the law that penalizes the insult to the Chinese anthem was approved with 41 votes in favor and one against. Those who were able to vote came mostly from the pro-government sector, as pro- Democratic lawmakers participated in a last-minute protest that took away their right to vote .

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  • Hong Kong
  • China

Diplomacy USA declares that Hong Kong no longer enjoys the autonomy promised by China

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AsiaChinese Parliament passes Hong Kong Security Law

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