Hong Kong
Hong
Kong is bracing for fresh rallies on Friday, which many fear
could turn violent, as protesters gave city authorities until Thursday to meet
their demands on the retraction of the city’s controversial extradition bill.
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| Tens of thousands of protesters march on Sunday near the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. |
Anonymous messages have circulated on social media
and messaging services calling for people to gather outside the government
headquarters in the Admiralty business district to “escalate their actions” if
the Hong Kong government fails to meet their demands by 5pm on Thursday. It
called on people to strike, close shops and stay off school on Friday. On one
popular chat platform alone, the message received nearly 89,000 “likes”. A user
called this “Hong Kong’s last battle”.
The messages started on Tuesday evening, after a
press conference by the city’s leader, Carrie Lam, in which she offered a “sincere” apology but no more
concessions.
Many in Hong Kong are angry that Lam has failed to
address their requests. Protesters are demanding she fully withdraw the
extradition law and investigate police brutality during the demonstrations, in
which riot officers used rubber bullets and tear gas, injuring dozens. They
also want her to release those arrested, refrain from calling last week’s
protest a riot, and resign.
On Saturday, after two large protests in one week,
Lam suspended the controversial extradition bill, which many fear could see
fugitives but also government critics extradited to mainland China for
non-political charges. But many remain dissatisfied that she stopped short of
retracting the bill and offered only an apology on Tuesday.
Another anonymous statement calls more radical
actions. The message, titled “an apology statement to Hong Kong citizens from (a
group of) fighters” posted Tuesday evening calls on people who wish to join the
protests to be equipped with protective gear such as face masks, umbrellas and
goggles and come with a “firm heart, cool head and to act accordingly as the
situation emerges.” It also warned people who did not plan to join the protests
to stay away from Admiralty on Thursday and Friday.
“Sorry, Hong Kong citizens,” it said. “Over the
past two weeks, there have been two protests participated by more than one
million people, there have also been many peaceful gatherings and one martyr
has even protested with his death, but our five requests have still not been
met. People will resist when they are pressured by the authorities, therefore
we cannot rule out intensifying our fight.”
Meanwhile, a group of university student union
representatives urged people to gather outside the government headquarters on
Friday morning to take part in peaceful, non-cooperation protests if the
government fails to respond by Thursday afternoon. They declined to tell
reporters what actions they would take. When asked whether they supported the
individuals who threatened to take radical action, they say they respected and
understood them.
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| Passer-by looks at notes and placards with messages of support for the protest against the extradition bill in Hong Kong. |
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