- Title: Timeline of Hong Kong's politics, on six month mark of anti-government protests
- Date: 9th December 2019
- Summary: A series of violent demonstrations that lasted for 79 days called "Occupy Movement" started in September 26, which saw protesters clashing with the police and paralysing parts of Hong Kong. The movement was seen as one of the biggest challenges to China's ruling communist party in decades. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 26, 2014) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** POLICE IN FRONT OF FENCE STUDENT LEADER AND DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST JOSHUA WONG BEING TAKEN AWAY BY POLICE HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 28, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TEAR GAS BEING THROWN AT PROTESTERS / PROTESTERS RUNNING AWAY PROTESTERS POINTING AND SHOUTING AT POLICE RIOT POLICE STANDING ALONG FENCE POLICE HOLDING SIGN READING (Chinese/English): "WARNING TEAR SMOKE" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY FROM TEAR GAS Hong Kong's legislature vetoed the China-vetted electoral reform package that had been criticized by opposition pro-democracy lawmakers and activists as flawed and undemocratic on June 18, 2015. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - JUNE 18, 2015) (REUTERS) HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SCREEN DISPLAY READING (Chinese): "VOTING IN PROGRESS/ 8-FOR 28-AGAINST PRO-DEMOCRACY LAWMAKERS UNFOLDING BANNER IN CHAMBER BANNER READING (Chinese): "RESTART THE REFORM PROCESS. PROTECT HONG KONG. FIGHT FOR GENUINE UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE. NEVER GIVE UP" Shortly after the elections, two pro-independence lawmakers, Yau Wai-ching, 25 and Baggio Leung, 30, were barred from entering the chamber after their swearing-in oaths were invalidated over language and a banner that was deemed derogatory to China. The pair were taken to court by a government-led judicial review to strip them of their position. HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - OCTOBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) PRO-INDEPENDENCE LAWMAKERS BAGGIO LEUNG AND YAU WAI CHING SURROUNDED BY REPORTERS YAU SITTING
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2019 04:29
- Keywords: China Hong Kong Occupy Sino-British Joint Declaration Umbrella anniversary extradition handover one country protests two systems
- Location: HONG KONG / SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG PROVINCE / BEIJING, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG / SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG PROVINCE / BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Government/Politics,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA00BB99TOW7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: December 19th marks the 35th anniversary of the signing of an agreement by China and Britain over Hong Kong, which laid the blueprint over how the city would be ruled after its return to China in 1997.
The Sino-British Joint Declaration, signed on December 19, 1984 by then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang, laid out how Britain would end its century-and-a-half long rule over Hong Kong. It also guarantees the city's rights and freedoms under the "two systems" formula.
Under Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, Hong Kong was guaranteed its freedoms for "at least 50 years" after 1997.
This year, Hong Kong has been rocked by six months of sometimes violent unrest in the biggest challenge to Chinese stability since the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989.
The protesters' demands include universal suffrage, an investigation into alleged police brutality and an end to Beijing's perceived efforts to undermine democratic freedoms promised when the former British colony was handed back to China in 1997.
China denies interfering in Hong Kong's affairs and says it is committed to the "one country, two systems" formula enshrined at the handover and guaranteeing the territory a high degree of autonomy. Beijing blames foreign countries including the United States for inciting unrest.
(Production: Phyllis Xu) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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