14 Pics From The Massive Protests In Hong Kong That Illustrate The Discipline And Respect Of The People
The semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong has been rocked by protests recently after a controversial extradition bill, one that allows 'suspects' to be taken back to mainland China for questioning, has reopened old wounds and grievances.
The former British colony, which was handed back to Chinese rule in 1997, has endured an uneasy relationship with the mainland while attempting to keep its special status in a "one country, two systems," agreement.
Attempts by the Chinese Communist Party to further impose its will on the Hong Kong population have resulted in pro-democracy protests and civil disobedience, with activists most recently finding their voice in the 2014 'Umbrella Movement' which occupied large parts of Hong Kong for 79 days.
Now Hong Kongers are out on the streets again, heading out in even larger crowds of people this time. It is estimated that around 2 million people, 25% of the Hong Kong population, have taken part in the peaceful protests so far, and they have forced both the local government and Beijing to rethink their stance.
These are no wild, violent insurrections, though. Hong Kongers do their protests differently! Showing discipline, unity, good manners, and respect for their city; this is an expression of peaceful people power at its finest. Something that we could all learn from Chinese people when dealing with oppressive policies from those in power.
Scroll down to check out how Hong Kongers are successfully and respectfully standing up for a good cause, and let us know what you think about the Hong Kong protest in the comments!
Image credits: hoccgoomusicThis post may include affiliate links.
Hong Kong Students Studying For Their Finals While Protesting
Exam time is coming up and while Hong Kongers need to fight for their collective autonomy, they also have to take care of their individual futures too. Combining their responsibilities to their city with their need to succeed at school, these students were able to show their support without interrupting their exam prep.
The fear among many Hong Kongers about the introduction of this extradition bill is that authorities will be able to target political challengers and critics, a further erosion of their freedoms. The conviction rates are extremely high in mainland China, with denial of representation, torture and arbitrary detention also common. If a pro-democracy campaigner can be taken to Beijing and swiftly disappeared without trial, where does that leave Hong Kongers in the fight for their future?
Supporters of the proposed law argue that it will protect Hong Kong from becoming a haven for criminals, out of the reach of Chinese authorities. State-owned newspaper state-owned China Daily said: “Any fair-minded person would deem the amendment bill a legitimate, sensible and reasonable piece of legislation that would strengthen Hong Kong’s rule of law and deliver justice.”
Level Of Tidiness In Hong Kong After A Protest Of 1.3 Million People!
Hong Kong Protestors Giving Way To Ambulance Like Crossing The Red Sea
Hong Kong has been fighting a slow, methodical takeover by the Chinese government; according to the Guardian: "Hong Kong’s top political leader is not elected by ordinary voters but by a 1,200-strong election committee accountable to Beijing. Half of its legislature are chosen through indirect electoral systems that favour pro-Beijing figures."
Mainland China’s increasing political, economic and cultural influence in Hong Kong has caused a great deal of worry. Property prices are soaring as wealthy investors from the mainland move in while local press outlets have been increasingly brought under Beijing's control. The largely youthful protesters on the streets of Hong Kong are facing the might of one of the richest and strongest countries on Earth, but they are facing up to the challenge with courage, respect and integrity.
Hong Kong Protestors Cleaning Up The Field After The Protest
A notable feature of the protests has been the eagerness of those who take part to clean up after themselves. Large scale protests like these can quickly turn into riots, with more extreme elements of society taking advantage of the chaos to loot, steal and vandalize property.
These protests seem to have largely avoided this phenomenon as they are essentially self-policing, a perfect example of people looking out for each other to protect the greater good. They love their city and show it the respect it deserves, unlike recent riots in Paris, London or Athens, just to name a few.
Protesters Shield Themselves With Umbrellas Against Pepper Spray Used By The Police Outside The Government Headquarters In Hong Kong
Volunteers In Ponchos Marked With A Blue Cross, Wearing Surgical Masks And Goggles, Form A Human Wall To Protect The First Aid Area Right Outside Admiralty Station, Across The Street From The Hong Kong Central Government Offices
We’re Hong Kong People, We’re Crazy People. There’re 2 Millions People Protesting But Still Very Disciplined
This is how you prove a point! Minimal violence, but still proving you care. I have enormous respect for every one of those people.
A Small Crowd Is Back Outside The Hong Kong Government Offices...to Clean Up The Rubbish. To Sort Out Recyclables And Unused Materials, And Clean Up The Rubbish. Incredible
Impressive How Thoughtful And Organised These Protestors Are. Bottles Of Water Are Left Along Pavements And Other Strategic Areas So People Can Douse Themselves, And Put Out Teargas Grenades When Police Move In
Notes Of Remembrance Cover A Sidewalk Outside Pacific Place, A Luxury Mall From Which A Protester Fell To His Death Yesterday Night
Social workers set up this station for people "to commemorate a martyr, to express their feelings and emotions."
Hong Kong Press Wears Helmets, Eye Masks And Reflective Vests To Express Discontent Towards Local Police's Actions
Journalists wore protective gear in the press conference after a few incident of journalists being attacked by HK police. Here's one of the videos: https://observers.france24.com/en/20190614-hong-kong-protests-photographer-police-viral
Hong Kong Protesters Helping Journalist After Tear Gas Deployment
These Hong Kong Protesters Run Around Putting Out Fires Instead Of Starting Them
At Times Square, Causeway Bay A Guide On How To Fold Origami Lilies For Those Who'd Like To Pay Tribute To The Protester Who Fell To His Death Saturday Night
and South Africans burn down their free clinics to protest poor service delivery....
Load More Replies...Hong Kong is an interesting place, though it's been a long time since I've been there. The youth were always respectful and courteous, but the homeless problem was heartbreaking - the worst I'd ever seen. However, perfect strangers were always happy to help me. Including one time when I almost passed out in the street, and an older lady ran to me and called over other women. They all started rubbing some sort of oil on my pulse points, and walked with me until I felt better. I'd love to go back someday soon.
I was in HK just 4 weeks ago. I only encountered 2 homeless people in my 3 days in Kowloon; nothing like the homelessness in San Francisco, or Los Angeles (there are homeless people in the landscaping in front of the LAX international terminal).
Load More Replies...Leave Hong Kong and its people alone. They are currently teaching the world how to register a discontentment. #respect
Meanwhile, in Montreal, taxi driver strike a couple of months ago. They blocked access to the airport, and a driver of the head car came out and proceeded to demonstratively urinate in the middle of the road, right in front of my office. Facepalm.
Total respect to this people. Unfortunately in my country we are far away from this amount of civilization. Hong Kong people are an example for all the world. Thank you for show us how People should behave.
Thx you!!! Plz come visit our city!!!! 🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰
Load More Replies...Americans peacefully protesting does nothing to change our government's behavior. That's why it escalates. The protests against the Iraq war were huge and Bush still went for it. The women's marches were huge and we still have a sex predator on the supreme court. They just do what they want to do and don't care about what the citizens want.
The American protests were sensationalized by the media, shown to be something they were not, and the very few who made trouble were focused on. If the war was as unpopular as you might hope, then Pres. Bush would have had only one term. He did not.
Load More Replies...The most encouraging expression of protesting I’ve ever witnessed! Us Americans have a lot to learn!
A lot of protesters, on all sides of the aisle could learn a lot from this.
Load More Replies...The Hong Kong government tried to propose the new extradition law in Hong Kong. Basically, everyone who does something against the Chinese government anywhere in the world could be sent to China when you are in Hong Kong.
Load More Replies...American's peacefully protesting does nothing to change our government's behavior. That's why it escalates.
As a Hong Konger, I can report that my standard has been considerably shattered after reading these comments
There was also a lot of this in the Occupy movement. Not to this extreme, but there was a lot of egalitarian actions looking out for each other during the protests.
Please google protest marches in South Africa. Every time there is a protest action, buildings are burnt, people are shot at and killed. They burn tires and block the high ways. You can google MARIKANA or any protest action in South Africa.
I lived in Pacific Place in Admiralty during the Umbrella Revolution in 2014. I had just arrived and fell in love with Hong Kong when I saw how everyone conducted themselves. The protesters, the police, and the citizens were incredibly patient and disciplined. At night, I walked around where thousands of protesters were and you could hear a pin drop. They were studying or talking quietly. They had a library, a chapel, cleaning crews, and a first aid station. Meanwhile, the world's press were camped out on the walkways overhead waiting for something violent to happen while they missed the whole story about how disciplined everyone was. Hong Kong people are amazing.
Riots in my country never ends well. Either someone is dead/injured, arrested, breaking / burning/ looting something. Small shops along the road are pilaged. All done while shouting Allahuakbar. Shame, shame on them.
Children are taught to be polite at a very young age. To take into account others not just ourselves. It is a deep part of their culture. It's refreshing, I don't see much respect paid to anyone here in America lately. Just my opinion.
Imagine if that were America. Are you embarrassed yet? No wonder we are being directed to hate these people. They show us up bad.
Who is directing you to hate whom? Never hate because you are told to. Think about why anyone would want you to hate anyone else. I know of no liberal or conservative that is telling anyone honestly to hate anyone else. I know of plenty of liberals who say conservatives hate, and plenty of conservatives who say liberals hate, but very few actually do hate. Think for yourself, learn to love.
Load More Replies...I have always maintained that there are three things that one cannot buy or learn: Culture, Class & Breeding. One either has it or one doesn't.
In Argentina, 10 unemployed people protesting to get free goverment money (not asking for jobs) close down streets and cause transportation problems for 100.000 people in Buenos Aires... And if the police take action to free the street, they complain to Human Rights.
and South Africans burn down their free clinics to protest poor service delivery....
Load More Replies...Hong Kong is an interesting place, though it's been a long time since I've been there. The youth were always respectful and courteous, but the homeless problem was heartbreaking - the worst I'd ever seen. However, perfect strangers were always happy to help me. Including one time when I almost passed out in the street, and an older lady ran to me and called over other women. They all started rubbing some sort of oil on my pulse points, and walked with me until I felt better. I'd love to go back someday soon.
I was in HK just 4 weeks ago. I only encountered 2 homeless people in my 3 days in Kowloon; nothing like the homelessness in San Francisco, or Los Angeles (there are homeless people in the landscaping in front of the LAX international terminal).
Load More Replies...Leave Hong Kong and its people alone. They are currently teaching the world how to register a discontentment. #respect
Meanwhile, in Montreal, taxi driver strike a couple of months ago. They blocked access to the airport, and a driver of the head car came out and proceeded to demonstratively urinate in the middle of the road, right in front of my office. Facepalm.
Total respect to this people. Unfortunately in my country we are far away from this amount of civilization. Hong Kong people are an example for all the world. Thank you for show us how People should behave.
Thx you!!! Plz come visit our city!!!! 🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰
Load More Replies...Americans peacefully protesting does nothing to change our government's behavior. That's why it escalates. The protests against the Iraq war were huge and Bush still went for it. The women's marches were huge and we still have a sex predator on the supreme court. They just do what they want to do and don't care about what the citizens want.
The American protests were sensationalized by the media, shown to be something they were not, and the very few who made trouble were focused on. If the war was as unpopular as you might hope, then Pres. Bush would have had only one term. He did not.
Load More Replies...The most encouraging expression of protesting I’ve ever witnessed! Us Americans have a lot to learn!
A lot of protesters, on all sides of the aisle could learn a lot from this.
Load More Replies...The Hong Kong government tried to propose the new extradition law in Hong Kong. Basically, everyone who does something against the Chinese government anywhere in the world could be sent to China when you are in Hong Kong.
Load More Replies...American's peacefully protesting does nothing to change our government's behavior. That's why it escalates.
As a Hong Konger, I can report that my standard has been considerably shattered after reading these comments
There was also a lot of this in the Occupy movement. Not to this extreme, but there was a lot of egalitarian actions looking out for each other during the protests.
Please google protest marches in South Africa. Every time there is a protest action, buildings are burnt, people are shot at and killed. They burn tires and block the high ways. You can google MARIKANA or any protest action in South Africa.
I lived in Pacific Place in Admiralty during the Umbrella Revolution in 2014. I had just arrived and fell in love with Hong Kong when I saw how everyone conducted themselves. The protesters, the police, and the citizens were incredibly patient and disciplined. At night, I walked around where thousands of protesters were and you could hear a pin drop. They were studying or talking quietly. They had a library, a chapel, cleaning crews, and a first aid station. Meanwhile, the world's press were camped out on the walkways overhead waiting for something violent to happen while they missed the whole story about how disciplined everyone was. Hong Kong people are amazing.
Riots in my country never ends well. Either someone is dead/injured, arrested, breaking / burning/ looting something. Small shops along the road are pilaged. All done while shouting Allahuakbar. Shame, shame on them.
Children are taught to be polite at a very young age. To take into account others not just ourselves. It is a deep part of their culture. It's refreshing, I don't see much respect paid to anyone here in America lately. Just my opinion.
Imagine if that were America. Are you embarrassed yet? No wonder we are being directed to hate these people. They show us up bad.
Who is directing you to hate whom? Never hate because you are told to. Think about why anyone would want you to hate anyone else. I know of no liberal or conservative that is telling anyone honestly to hate anyone else. I know of plenty of liberals who say conservatives hate, and plenty of conservatives who say liberals hate, but very few actually do hate. Think for yourself, learn to love.
Load More Replies...I have always maintained that there are three things that one cannot buy or learn: Culture, Class & Breeding. One either has it or one doesn't.
In Argentina, 10 unemployed people protesting to get free goverment money (not asking for jobs) close down streets and cause transportation problems for 100.000 people in Buenos Aires... And if the police take action to free the street, they complain to Human Rights.