Ver. 4
CAUTION: China is watching you!
What happened?
Hong Kong government (HK Gov) has proposed an extradition bill on April, in which China becomes an applicable country in handing over fugitives with HK Gov.
China can propose application to HK Gov. But HK Gov CANNOT reject their application. Once the surface proof provided by China is judged as valid, HK Gov has to hand over to China.
FOREIGNERS IN HK will also be applicable to the bill.
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/05/22/ex-governor-chris-patten-says-extradition-bill-worst-thing-hong-kong-since-1997-carrie-lam-faces-grilling/
Reactions of Hongkongese
It has aroused a great resentment among the citizens. There were two protests on 31 March and 28 April with 12,000 and 130,000 people involved. The third protest will be on 9 June.
Reactions of international community
Bipartisan letter from Congressional Executive Commission on China of the US
AND
Démarche from the European Union
They protest about the bill of leaving foreigners in HK vulnerable to being sent back for an unfair trial on mainland China and damaging HK’s autonomy
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/05/25/intl-criticsm-hong-kongs-controversial-extradition-bill-legislature-caves-govt-demands/
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-extradition-eu/eu-lodges-formal-diplomatic-note-against-contentious-hong-kong-extradition-bill-idUSKCN1SU0OS
How does it relate to you?
1. You WILL BE affected when you travel/ work/ exchange in HK
“Foreigners who have committed crimes against China and are in Hong Kong will be arrested and handed over to China.”, as explained by China government.
I am a good person. I won’t commit any crimes. So, I won’t be arrested.
NO. DON’T BE NAIVE.
“Inciting subversion of state power” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” are two famous laws in China.
2009: Liu Xiaobo, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, were convicted for “Inciting subversion of state power” because of his involvement in campaigns to end communist one-party rule in China. He finally died in prison in 2017.
2010: Zhao Lianhai, who were an activist for parents of children harmed during the 2008 Chinese milk scandal, was sentenced to 2.5 years imprisonment for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”
If the bill is passed, the above laws are applicable in HK. That means if you have discussed about Chinese politics or said any one word about Chinese government in your country, and after that if you travel to HK, even just for a flight exchange, you can be arrested and handed over to China.
Try to search more issues on Internet, eg: Cultural Revolution, June Fourth Incident, Tibet concentration camps, Ai Wei Wei, and think about whether you are guaranteed to have a fair trial in China.
2. Don’t let your friends, family and other fellow people become political bargaining chip of China
The US has requested for Meng Wanzhou’s (chairwoman of Huawei) extradition from Canada, while China has arrested at least 3 Canadians in China to threaten Canada.
It is believed that the China-controlled HK Gov proposed such bill at this sensitive moment is to enlarge the power of China to arrest more HK residing foreigners to China.
This can be a counter measure when China is encircled by international community.
There are 58209 whites, 186869 Filipinos, 159901 Indonesians, 9976 Japanese and other ethnic groups living in HK, not to mention the number of tourists from all over the world.
https://www.bycensus2016.gov.hk/en/bc-mt.html
It is completely fine and understandable that you don’t give a shit to freedom and human right of Hongkongese.
But please DO care about yourselves, friends, family and other fellow people who are in the same ethnic group with you.
What can you do?
1. Keep an eye on the issue
2. Support your gov when they express any objections or protests on this issue in the future. They are protecting you.
3. Forward this message.