At Speakers Corner this afternoon in Nottingham, I met some Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters, keeping the issues alive.
On June 12, 2019, a major confrontation took place in Hong Kong during the early phase of the 2019-2020 pro-democracy protests. The immediate trigger was a controversial extradition bill proposed by the HK government that would have allowed suspects to be sent to mainland China for trial. Many residents feared it would undermine HK’s judicial independence and civil liberties.
That day, tens of thousands of protesters surrounded the Legislative Council Complex in the Admiralty district to stop the bill’s second reading. Demonstrators blocked roads and government buildings, leading lawmakers to postpone the debate.
The situation escalated into violent clashes between protesters and police. Riot police used tear gas, rubber bullets, bean bag rounds, pepper spray, and batons to disperse crowds. Protesters used umbrellas, barricades, and improvised defenses. Dozens of people were injured, including protesters and police officers.
