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The Umbrella Revolution is gaining momentum, but what are the chances it will end well?
The Umbrella Revolution is gaining momentum, but what are the chances it will end well?
It will not. Because if you have a look at the key figures, they have close connections to the US.
The rest you may fumbl together by yourself. But it is not accidental that this starts right now.
With China siding Russia in the bloody stupid US embargo.
This is not about democracy. This is about weakening the chinese government for a purpose.
I am curious how long the US will still get away with such shit.
Xi rode in an open-top jeep past rows of soldiers lined up on an airstrip on his visit to the People's Liberation Army garrison. He called out "Salute all the comrades" and "Salute to your dedication" as he passed 3,100 soldiers arranged in 20 formations. Armored personnel carriers, combat vehicles, helicopters and other pieces of military hardware were arrayed behind the troops. It was a rare display of the Chinese military's might in Hong Kong, where it normally maintains a low-key presence. China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is expected to make a port call next month. Xi, who's also chairman of the Central Military Commission, wore a buttoned-up black jacket in the steamy heat during his 10-minute review of troops at the Shek Kong base in Hong Kong's suburban New Territories. It was part of a visit to mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover, when Britain gave up control of the Asian financial hub to China on July 1, 1997.
Hong Kong was granted the freedom to run most of its affairs after it came under China's control under the "one country, two systems" principle. However, Beijing is in charge of the city's defense and foreign affairs. Troops deployed from the mainland are typically confined to bases scattered across town and at headquarters downtown. Hong Kongers aren't allowed to join up. Apart from trying to drum up Chinese national pride, the military display also served as a warning to groups expressing anti-China sentiment or pushing for independence, said Willy Lam, a political analyst at Chinese University of Hong Kong. The message is that "when all else fails the PLA will always be the last resort. This, I think, would get people quite worried," Lam said. "The implications are quite scary." Xi's three-day visit to mark the anniversary includes presiding at the inauguration Saturday of the city's new leader, Carrie Lam. Security has been tight for his visit as authorities brace for protests.
Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects Chinese troops of People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison at the Shek Kong Barracks in Hong Kong, Friday, June 30, 2017. Xi landed in Hong Kong Thursday to mark the 20th anniversary of Beijing taking control of the former British colony, accompanied by a formidable layer of security as authorities showed little patience for pro-democracy protests
Police arrested 26 people, including young activist leader Joshua Wong, after they climbed onto a giant flower sculpture symbolizing Hong Kong's "reunification" with China on Wednesday. The department said they were later released on bail without charge but are required to report back to police in September. Some were held for more than 30 hours. Pro-democracy supporters fear Beijing is tightening its grip on Hong Kong and undermining guarantees of wide autonomy under "one country, two systems." Nathan Law, a former student protest leader elected to Hong Kong's semi-democratic legislature last year, was among those arrested. The action at the statue "aimed to show that for the past 20 years, our human rights, our freedom, our democracy have deteriorated," Law told reporters Friday. Another activist, Avery Ng of the League of Social Democrats, said authorities appeared to be increasingly using "thugs" in addition to regular police to intimidate and harass the opposition. Unknown men followed him and at least one other person after their release and refused to identify themselves when confronted, he said.
U.S. officials said they were concerned that China's Communist leaders weren't sticking to their promises. "Looking ahead to the remaining 30 years of 'one country, two systems,' we cannot allow Hong Kong to go the way of Beijing's failed authoritarianism," U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said in a statement. In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Hong Kong was strictly China's domestic affair and rejected all outside expressions of concern. The 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration laying terms for Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule is "no longer relevant today, and has no binding force on the Chinese central government's governance over Hong Kong," Lu said. "The U.K. has no sovereignty, governance right or the right of supervision over today's Hong Kong. We hope the relevant people can be aware of the reality," Lu said.
News from The Associated Press
Thousands of police have been deployed in Hong Kong as the territory marks 20 years since its handover to China from Britain with a series of lavish events. China's President Xi Jinping will join celebrations on Saturday, including a flag-raising ceremony and a fireworks display over Victoria Harbour. Pro-democracy and pro-Beijing demonstrators are expected to march through the streets over the weekend. A huge security operation is in place with large parts of the city shut down. Mr Xi will oversee the swearing in of the newly-elected chief executive of the territory, Carrie Lam, along with the rest of her cabinet on Saturday. He is expected to depart Hong Kong immediately after the inauguration.
On Friday, an official protest zone near the convention centre where Mr Xi was guest of honour at an anniversary banquet and variety performance was heavily patrolled, as demonstrators gathered chanting "end one-party dictatorship". Democracy campaigners clashed with pro-Beijing supporters near the venue, with police separating the two sides. Among the pro-democracy activists was leader of the so-called umbrella protesters, Joshua Wong, who told demonstrators that the only person responsible for "causing a public nuisance" was "Xi Jinping". Mr Wong was among 26 activists arrested on Wednesday for "breaking the 'public nuisance' law" after climbing into a golden sculpture of a bauhinia flower, Hong Kong's emblem. The sculpture, which sits by the city's harbour front, was a gift from China and an iconic landmark symbolising the handover.
The demonstrators, who were demanding greater political freedoms, also called for the release of terminally ill Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. Mr Wong was released on Friday morning, the political party Demosisto, founded by him and legislator Nathan Law, said in a tweet. Police said in a statement the activists had been released on bail and must report back to police in September. They have not been charged. Their protest was the second one this week at the monument - activists had earlier draped a large black flag over the sculpture and were stopped by police. President Xi earlier on Friday inspected troops at a local garrison as part of what was described as the largest military parade in the city since its handover to China in 1997, Reuters news agency reports.
Several demonstrations, including the annual 1 July pro-democracy march, have been planned for this weekend. There is growing concern that the Chinese central government is undermining Hong Kong's more politically liberal traditions, despite its promise to give it a high degree of autonomy under the "one country, two systems" principle. The pro-Beijing camp also has protests planned. Mr Xi gave a short speech on Thursday after his arrival where he pledged Beijing's support for Hong Kong, and later met with the city's outgoing leader Leung Chun-ying and other officials.
Hong Kong marks 20 years since handover to China - BBC News
