Thousands take to Hong Kong streets against proposal to extradite suspects to mainland China
- Organisers say 12,000 took part in the rally against plan to send fugitives across the border
- Protesters tell of fears about city opening itself up to the long arm of mainland Chinese law
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday, intensifying a campaign against the government’s controversial plan to allow the transfer of fugitives to mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.
They warned that the next generation of Hongkongers could be victimised under a different legal system north of the border and urged the government to work out an extradition arrangement with Taiwan only.
Pro-democracy lawmakers and activist group Civil Human Rights Front told officials to shelve the proposal and conduct a public consultation exercise.
The march organisers said 12,000 took part in the rally, which would make it the biggest public demonstration since last year’s annual July 1 march, when the front estimated 50,000 came out.
Police however put Sunday’s turnout at 5,200 at its peak.
A Taiwanese murder case last year for which Hong Kong officials were unable to extradite the suspect has spurred the government to propose one-off transfers of fugitives to any jurisdiction the city does not have a formal extradition treaty with. A bill will be introduced to the legislature on Wednesday.