In February 2019, the Hong Kong government proposed an extradition law which would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China. 

The proposal gave rise to massive protests in Hong Kong which have been going on for nearly a year. Critics fear that the law would undermine judicial independence and endanger dissidents. 

Why was the extradition law proposed?

The amendments were proposed after murder suspect Chan Tong-Kai, who was accused of strangling his pregnant girlfriend and stuffing her body in a suitcase in Taiwan 2018, fled back to Hong Kong after the murder, reported Vox.com. He was not sent back to trial in Taiwan as Hong Kong does not have a formal extradition treaty with the city. 

The Hong Kong government used this case to propose furthermore amendments which would have allowed many extraditions to countries that lack formal treaties with Hong Kong. 

One Country, Two systems

Hong Kong is governed by China under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ rule. This gives Hong Kong the right of being a semi-autonomous city under the basic law, its mini-constitution, for 50 years. Through this process, the city has been given more political freedom, unregulated Internet, relatively free press, and a less controlled judiciary. 

The mini-constitution of Hong Kong was formed in 1977 when the city was handed over to China by Britain after over 150 years of rule. 

However, China has increasingly tried to exert its influence and strict rules in the city. 

Protest Uproar

The protests in Hong Kong against the extradition bill started in March, after pro-democratic critics raised concerns that the bill could lead to unfair trials and violent treatment of citizens. The concern also included China increasing its control over Hong Kong which could be used to suppress the freedom of expression of people, journalists and activists. 

Thousands of people took to streets demanding the bill be rolled back. Almost one million people marched to the government headquarters on June 9.

On June 15, Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, said that the bill would be suspended indefinitely. 

The protests continued, becoming more frequent and often turning violent with face-offs between the police and activists. Several protesters demanding the full withdrawal of the bill were also arrested. 

The bill was fully withdrawn in September; however, the protests went on demanding more pro-democratic rights that also included (i) the protests should not be declared as a ‘riot’, (ii) amnesty of arrested protestors, (iii) an inquiry into police brutality; (iv) implementation of complete universal suffrage.