Vox Staff

What began as a targeted protest against a controversial bill has become a battle for the future of Hong Kong.

Politics

World Politics

Hong Kong protests 2019: news and updates

The Hong Kong protests began in June 2019 as a targeted demonstration&nbsp;against a controversial extradition bill&nbsp;that could send&nbsp;Hong Kong&nbsp;residents to mainland China to be tried in court, but they&rsquo;ve since transformed into what feels like a battle for the future of Hong Kong. Protesters are not just fighting their local government &mdash;&nbsp;they&rsquo;re challenging one of the most powerful countries on earth: China.
Hong Kong&rsquo;s chief executive, Carrie Lam, said the bill is intended to prevent Hong Kong from becoming a safe haven for fugitives. But opponents fear it would expose Hong Kong to China&rsquo;s flawed judicial system and lead to further erasure of the city&rsquo;s judicial independence.
Initially,&nbsp;Lam was determined to move forward with the bill. But after a series of&nbsp;massive protests, she announced she would &ldquo;indefinitely suspend&rdquo; it. Protesters are not accepting the suspension, however, and are demanding its full withdrawal &mdash; and calling for Lam&rsquo;s resignation.
A few of the protests have stood out.&nbsp;On July 1, the anniversary of the British handover of Hong Kong,&nbsp;protesters stormed and vandalized the Legislative Council. A&nbsp;citywide strike shut down transportation in Hong Kong on August 6.&nbsp;Protesters&nbsp;put on a fun laser show&nbsp;on August 8 after police arrested a student for purchasing threatening lasers. On August 12 and 13,&nbsp;demonstrators took over the Hong Kong airport,&nbsp;leading to mass flight cancellations at one of the world&rsquo;s busiest transportation hubs.
Hong Kong police have fought back, often violently. On June 12, police fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and beanbags at crowds of demonstrators. A woman believed to be a volunteer medic was hit in the eye with a beanbag round fired by police on August 11. On August 25, police deployed water cannons for the first time, and one officer fired a warning shot.
As neither side shows signs of backing down, here&rsquo;s where you can find updates on the Hong Kong protests:

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More from Hong Kong protests 2019: news and updates

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The context you need, when you need it

More from Hong Kong protests 2019: news and updates

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