- Title: Meet the people in Hong Kong's protest movement
- Date: 17th August 2019
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTESTER DAVID WONG, SAYING: "We share the same values as the U.S. and EU that we fight for democracy, we fight for justice and so we hope those countries can stand up and speak out for Hong Kong." HONG KONG CITIZEN HELEN HOLDING BOTTLED WATER AND CHANTING (Cantonese) "GO HONGKONGERS!" VARIOUS OF HELEN OFFERING BOTTLED WATER TO PASSERS-BY (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) HONG KONG CITIZEN, HELEN, SAYING: "I am at an older age so I can't rush to the front line, and we are not as good as those youngsters. If I go to the front line then I would be dragging their feet. What I can do is to back them, to support them, give out free water and thank them for their support so that we can march in Tai Po. And now we don't even have the right to march in this small place called Tai Po. I think this is very sad. If we can't stand up now, we won't have the right to stand up in the future, and it would be even worse, if, when we come out (to protest), the government just arrest anyone they want, without any excuse or explanation. This is what we feel very sad about." PROTESTER TAKING A FACIAL MASK FROM A BOX HELD BY ANOTHER PROTESTER PROTESTERS OFFERING FELLOW PROTESTERS FACIAL MASKS (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) STUDENT IN PSYCHOLOGY, SLAINE LAI, 22, SAYING: "We are seeing different situations in which people help each other. For example, some citizens buy certain items such as helmets, masks and even food for students and protesters at the front line. Apart from this, first aid units are forming in different groups to distribute some first aid items too." FIRST AID WORKERS GATHERING AT PROTEST SITE FIRST AID WORKER'S VEST (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) UNIDENTIFIED FIRST AID WORKER, SAYING: "Hong Kong now is indeed in chaos, because the city is on the way towards democracy. When the government fails to respond to the demands of the public or fails to understand their demands, conflict will appear constantly. That's why now there's chaos. I think this is an inevitable occurrence in the path of pursuing democracy. I believe it would be a good day after the storm." POLICE FIRING TEAR GAS SHIELDS BEING DRAGGED AS POLICE RETREAT POLICE STANDING BEHIND SHIELDS FACING PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) OFFICE ASSISTANT AT HOSPITAL, LEWIS, SAYING: "I believe, or more accurately I wish people in Hong Kong can have a very bright future." PROTESTER PICKING UP TEAR GAS CANISTER PROTESTER THROWING TEAR GAS CANISTER BACK AT POLICE
- Embargoed: 31st August 2019 03:38
- Keywords: Hong Kong protesters protests people extradition bill one country two system China autonomy vox pop
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA005ASVTFT3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:These are the protesters in Hong Kong: young, brave and fighting for what they say is the erosion of the "one country, two systems" arrangement enshrining some autonomy for Hong Kong when China took it back from Britain in 1997.
"From the UK to China, president Jiang (Zemin) at the time promised us that we are going to have general elections for both our legislative council and the chief executive. But none of that was happening... five years later not only that our promises are not fulfilled, they even put a China extradition bill which is even worse," said Woody Ho, a student.
The increasingly violent protests since June have plunged the Asian financial hub into its most serious crisis in decades and are one of the biggest popular challenges to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.
Despite the intense police response and a toughening stance from China, the movement that began two months ago in opposition to a bill allowing extradition to the mainland still seems to enjoy broad support in the city of more than 7 million people.
"I am at an older age, so I can't rush to the front line... what I can do is to back them, to support them," said a local citizen Helen, who was seen handing out bottled water to protesters while chanting "Go Hongkongers!" during a recent protest.
From singing the Christian hymn "Sing Hallelujah to the Lord", which has emerged as the unlikely anthem of the movement, to forming various support groups among themselves, protesters have created a well-developed system for providing supplies, aid and organising crowds.
"Hong Kong now is indeed in chaos, because the city is on the way towards democracy... I believe it would be a good day after the storm," said an unidentified aid worker. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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