Thousands of Hong Kong residents yesterday marched in protest on the 19th anniversary of the territory’s return to Chinese rule, as tensions simmer against Chinese authorities over the abductions of several Hong Kong booksellers.
Some waved banners criticizing Beijing over alleged cross-border abductions as the act of a “totalitarian” regime, as well as calling for the release of leading dissidents.
“This is a very grave threat to the safety of Hong Kong residents, that an unknown force is spying on people,” pro-democracy lawmaker Cyd Ho (何秀蘭) said at the rally. “The Hong Kong government has to follow up with the central government on what is really happening behind the scenes.”
Photo: Reuters
The territory has been unnerved in the past year by the disappearances of five booksellers who specialized in works critical of Chinese leaders.
One of the men, Lam Wing-kei (林榮基), who was detained for eight months by Chinese agents and released last month, said Beijing was “violating Hong Kong’s rights” through illegal cross-border enforcement operations.
The tactics have raised fears that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rulers in Beijing are eroding the so-called “one country, two systems” formula that has granted Hong Kong a high degree of freedom and autonomy since its 1997 return to Chinese rule.
China has denied any wrongdoing.
Lam, who had been due to lead the march that each year draws thousands of people, withdrew at the last minute, citing safety concerns after being followed by two strangers, a lawmaker said.
“He feels increasingly concerned about his personal safety,” Democratic Party Legislator Albert Ho (何俊仁) said.
Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Director Wang Guangya (王光亞) said the booksellers had “destroyed” the one country, two systems formula by publishing books that are banned in mainland China.
However, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), speaking in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the CCP’s 95th anniversary, yesterday said that “no matter what the difficulties and challenges, our confidence and determination toward one country, two systems will not waver.”
Xi said that Hong Kong would continue to enjoy a high degree of autonomy and Beijing would strictly adhere to the law.
Yesterday’s protests are considered a barometer of public sentiment toward Beijing ahead of territorial legislative elections in September.
A group of activists who advocate Hong Kong independence from China are planning an evening “black mask” protest outside the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
A 79-day Umbrella movement in late 2014 demanding Beijing allow full democracy in Hong Kong brought chaos to the streets.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique