Hundreds of thousands rally in Hong Kong against China extradition bill.
HONG KONG — Hong Kong was plunged into a fresh political crisis on Sunday night after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to thwart a proposed extradition law that would allow suspects to be sent to mainland China to face trial.
Riot police armed with batons and helmets were gathering while government-funded broadcaster RTHK reported that they used pepper spray on six masked men trying to block the road. U.S. and European officials have issued formal warnings — concern matched by international business and human rights lobbies that fear the changes would dent Hong Kong's rule of law. The former British colony was handed back to Chinese rule in 1997 amid guarantees of autonomy and various freedoms including a separate legal system, which many diplomats and business leaders believe is the city's strongest remaining asset.
The genial crowd included young families pushing babies in prams as well as the elderly braving 32 degree C heat, some spraying each other with water misters. Schoolteacher Garry Chiu joined the protest with his wife and 1-year-old daughter, saying,"It is no longer about me." Opponents of the bill question the fairness and transparency of the Chinese court system and worry about Chinese security forces contriving charges.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Thousands gather in Hong Kong for huge rally against extradition lawsPolice chiefs call for public restraint, government-funded broadcaster RTHK reports, as they mobilised more than 2,000 officers for a march that organisers expect to draw more than 500,000 people.
Read more »
Hong Kong protests against extradition law spill into SydneyAnger in Hong Kong over a move to allow extraditions to mainland China spilled o...
Read more »
Factbox: What Hong Kong people are saying about controversial China extradition billAt least half a million people in Hong Kong are expected to brave sweltering hea...
Read more »
Tens of thousands rally in Hong Kong against China extradition billThe former British colony was handed back to Chinese rule in 1997 amid guarantees of autonomy and freedoms, including a separate legal system.
Read more »
'We have the voice:' More than 150,000 Hong Kong protesters blast China extradition planProtesters estimated by police to number more than 150,000 marched through Hong Kong on Sunday in a mass rally calling for the withdrawal of a local government proposal to allow fugitives to be handed over to authorities in China.
Read more »