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Over 1Mln protest in Hong Kong against amendment to extradition bill: Reports

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 10 Jun 2019, 06:51 am Print

Over 1Mln protest in Hong Kong against amendment to extradition bill: Reports

Beijing (Sputnik/UNI) Over one million people took to the streets of the Chinese special administrative region of Hong Kong to protest against the new amendment to government’s extradition bill, which, if approved, will permit transferring the fugitives to jurisdictions Hong Kong has no respective agreements with, local media reported on Sunday, citing the protest's organizers.

Hong Kong has been in the state of unrest for several weeks now due to the new amendment to the extradition bill, which is about to go to vote on June 12. Once approved, the amendment will allow extraditions of escapees to any jurisdiction Hong Kong has no formal deals with, including mainland China.


According to the South China Morning Post newspaper, police have already arrested seven people and have been spotted using pepper spray. Nevertheless, no serious clashes were registered.


The demonstration appears to be the most unified protest the city has seen in the last decade. However, the police said that only 240,000 demonstrators were taking part in the manifestation.


The Hong Kong region, which enjoys significant autonomy in China except for foreign and defense policies, has a different legal system.


The opponents of the proposed law claim it will become "the death" for Hong Kong as any human rights activist or member of the non-governmental organization whose activity does not please Beijing will risk falling under it and be persecuted.


About 100,000 of protesters gathered for a similar rally on April 28. The RTHK broadcaster reported, citing the Civil Human Rights Front, that about 130,000 people participate in the rally, while the local police said the number of protesters stood at some 22,800.