Hong Kong: Endgame

 

Will a new Chinese government national security law finally spell an end to Hong Kong's cherished autonomy?

At 11pm on June 30, 2020, a new national security law came into effect in Hong Kong - just an hour before the 23rd anniversary of Britain's handover of the city to China.

The legislation, which sparked an immediate international backlash, has significantly tightened Beijing's grip on Hong Kong and has stifled the huge protests that began sweeping the territory a year ago.

Is democracy dead in Hong Kong?

Activists decry 'climate of fear' a month after China imposed national security law.

It has been an eventful month since China's government imposed a national security law on Hong Kong.

China's leaders say it is essential to curb months of disruptive protests, but critics say it is the death knell of democracy in one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

Police have detained student activists; 12 democratic candidates have been disqualified from a now postponed Legislative Council election; and despite going into exile, activists overseas such as Nathan Law now face wanted notices if they return to Hong Kong.

Will international pressure improve human rights in China?

US imposes visa bans on Chinese Communist Party officials over policies on Hong Kong.

The United States is taking the first steps to retaliate against a new security law in Hong Kong.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is imposing visa restrictions on Communist Party of China officials believed to be responsible for undermining human rights in the semi-autonomous city.

China says the law is needed to restore order after months of protests that turned violent at times.

Hong Kong’s chance to preserve its special status | DW News

Beijing has announced a new national security law that would threaten Hong Kong's semi-autonomous status. Pro-democracy protesters now fear what they see as an unprecedented attack on freedoms in the city.

Hong Kong police try to disperse anti national anthem bill protests

In Hong Kong police have fired pepper pellets to disperse crowds of protesters in the city center. Hundreds of riot police have surrounded the legislature building in anticipation of protests. The territory's pro-democracy protesters want to voice their opposition to a bill criminalizing disrespect for China's national anthem, which lawmakers are currently debating.

Hong Kong: Thousands defy lockdown orders to protest China's security law | DW News

In Hong Kong, thousands took to the streets to protest Beijing's plans to impose a security law on the former British colony. It would bypass the local legislature and is expected to ban what China calls treason and sedition. Pro-democracy campaigners say it's a threat to Hong Kong's freedoms and semi-autonomy. Hong Kong's security chief says "terrorism" is on the rise in the city as police arrested some 180 protesters during renewed unrest.

Hong Kong protesters rally against China's planned security law | DW News

Protests have been broken out in Hong Kong after China sparked outrage with proposed new legislation. It would ban what Beijing calls secessionism and subversive activity and could allow Chinese security agents to operate in the territory. Pro-democracy campaigners are calling it a threat to Hong Kong's autonomy.

Hong Kong police used teargas, pepper spray and water cannon on crowds as thousands rallied against Beijing’s declaration that it intends to impose national security laws on the semi-autonomous region – a highly criticised move because of the 'one country, two systems' rule.

At least 120 people were arrested, according to police, in one of the biggest gatherings in the country since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic as proposed law is to be approved next week at China’s National People’s Congress.

What were the big stories, issues and events of 2019?

People took to the streets across Asia, Latin America and the Arab world demanding change.

The year 2019 may be remembered as the time when people around the world felt cheated.

From Hong Kong to Santiago, and from Baghdad to Algiers, people demanded better governance.

In the United States President Donald Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, although his removal is highly unlikely.

With organised disinformation campaigns all around us, it has become harder than ever to distinguish fact from fiction.

Censorship and self-censorship are more routine, and the cultural protection needed for a free press is eroding.

Hong Kong police fire teargas to disperse Christmas Eve protests

Hundreds of officers guard main roads as thousands of shoppers and tourists look on

Hong Kong riot police fired rounds of teargas at thousands of anti-government protesters, many wearing masks and reindeer horns, after scuffles in shopping centres and a tourist district on Christmas Eve.

Demonstrators inside the malls threw umbrellas and other objects at police who responded by beating some with batons; one pointed his gun at the crowd, but did not fire.

Police used teargas to disperse protesters who had occupied the main roads and blocked traffic outside the malls and nearby luxury hotels, including the Peninsula, in the Tsim Sha Tsui tourist district of Kowloon.

Journalism that changed 2019

A look at cases where reporting speaks truth to power, exposes wrongdoing, and helps rectify it.

Picking just four was hard but we settled on West Africa and a documentary film Sex for Grades produced by Africa Eye, the investigative arm of BBC Africa.

It follows a radio presenter and investigative journalist, Kiki Mordi, as she exposes the extent of sexual harassment in West African universities.

Speaking from personal experience, she told The Listening Post: "People like to make excuses for abusers and people like making excuses for harassers. But right there, visualising it, seeing it and putting your own daughter in that room, I think you would have a rethink about the excuses you were going to make for abusers or lecturers who harassed their students."

The China Complex

What is China? How ancient Chinese principles help explain the preservation, power and problems of modern China.

What is China? Where is it going? What is it going to do?

The world's most populous country, an economy set to become the biggest in the world, a communist state, a developing nation, the world's oldest surviving civilisation at the cutting edge of a technological revolution, an authoritarian regime brutally suppressing its minority groups - China is many things to many people, but running through its core, like a continuous silk thread, is one central principle: order.

Why are people protesting in Hong Kong?

Hundreds of thousands of people in Hong Kong have continued to protest in the streets since demonstrations began in June 2019.

The protests started as an outcry over an extradition bill and have reawakened Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

Hong Kong's leaders are demanding big changes to the way the autonomous region is run and some want to stop it fully reuniting with China in 2047.

So how did we get here? This episode of Start Here - with Al Jazeera explains why one extradition bill triggered an unprecedented political crisis.

Hong Kong and the Uighurs: How far will China go?

We discuss the Hong Kong protests and China's crackdown on Uighurs and debate US policy on illegal Israeli settlements.

Hong Kong protests: Are police using excessive force?

The US ramped up the pressure on Hong Kong this week over its handling of anti-government protests that have dragged on for months in the self-governing Chinese territory.

Congress passed two bills aimed at supporting protesters; they include measures that would allow for sanctions against officials responsible for human rights abuses in Hong Kong. The move infuriated China, which warned of "strong countermeasures" if US President Donald Trump signed off on the bill.

Hong Kong protests: Taking the streets, dominating the screens

As millions hit Hong Kong's streets, China seeks to downplay protests. Plus, movies of South Africa's apartheid era.

Covering the Hong Kong protests

"The world is watching" - that is the chant on the streets of Hong Kong as images of mega protests are beamed around the globe.

Two million people in a territory of seven million went out to stop the passage of a law that would allow suspected criminals to be extradited to mainland China.

We examine the dissonance between the coverage of the protests in Hong Kong and mainland China, as well as the effect the bill could have on journalists in the Special Administrative Region.