Hours after street chaos, more protests loom in Hong Kong

By Dilip -

Support the Chinese peoples struggle for democracy

The protest movement began in early June with broad support. Organizers estimated more than 2 million people marched against the extradition bill in one of the initial demonstrations. However after nine weeks of protests, the movement appears to be taking an economic toll. Business leaders say 
sales are down compared to last year, while one firm found that the number of flight bookings to the city appears to be falling.

Yet the mostly young protesters -- who say they face a much bleaker political and economic future than their parents did, with Hong Kong one of the world's most expensive and unequal places to live -- have shown few signs that they're willing to back down. Anger at police has been building over what many protesters claim are heavy-handed tactics. Officers also came under scrutiny after a slow response to a mob attack in the suburb of Yuen Long last month.

Eight people, including the leader of a banned pro-independence party, were arrested last week for possession of offensive weapons and suspected bomb-making materials. And last month, police seized what is thought to be one of the largest ever caches of high-powered explosivesuncovered in the city. A total of 44 people, including more than a dozen students and a 16-year-old girl, were also charged with rioting after an illegal protest last Sunday brought parts of the city to a standstill.

Some protesters say this is their last chance to affect change before 2047, when the "one country, two systems" model that Hong Kong is governed by expires. "One country, two systems" was enacted when the UK handed control of Hong Kong to China in 1997, and was supposed to guarantee that Hong Kongers would continue to enjoy legal and political rights not granted in mainland China.
"We are pessimistic about Hong Kong but we still have to come out -- because if we don't, we lose our last slither of hope," one man, surnamed Yu, told CNN at the Mong Kok march on Saturday... 
read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/04/asia/hong-kong-protests-august-4-intl-hnk/index.html

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