Hong Kong: Thousands march against China extradition proposal

March 31, 2019

Thousands of people in Hong Kong took to the streets on Sunday to protest a government plan to change the city’s extradition laws. Rights activists and business leaders fear the proposed amendments would erode personal freedom and Hong Kong’s status as an international business hub.

In February, the Hong Kong government proposed that the city’s chief executive should be given powers to send fugitives and suspects to jurisdictions not covered by existing arrangements, including to mainland China and Taiwan.

Current arrangements exclude China because of its poor legal and human rights record.

The government plans to present the amendments to legislators on Wednesday.

Read more: Key Hong Kong protest leaders plead not guilty in Occupy trial

A ‘risk for China critics’

“These amendments would heighten the risk for human rights activists and others critical of China being extradited to the mainland for trial on fabricated charges,” Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement on Sunday.

“The amendments would tarnish Hong Kong’s reputation for the rule of law, and should be scrapped,” she said, adding that the proposal puts Hong Kong people “at risk of torture and unfair trials.”

Human Rights watch sent a letter to Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam urging her not to go ahead with extradition amendments.

“Hong Kong people all have to bear the negative consequences of this ordinance. This carries the risk of personal freedom being restricted,” Lam Wing-kee, a bookseller who was allegedly detained by Chinese agents in 2016, told the Sunday rally participants.

Read more: Hong Kong moves to criminalize insults to Chinese national anthem

Beijing tightens grip on Hong Kong

Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 after 99 years under British colonial rule. The “one country, two systems” principle underpins the reunification process and allows the territory relative autonomy in the 50 year transition period.

But more than 20 years into the process, critics are concerned Chinese authorities are already tightening their grip on political and social life.

In 2012, a report on freedom of the press in Hong Kong showed it had deteriorated alarmingly, with five journalists detained by police “without concrete evidence”.

Chinese authorities have clamped down on pro-democracy demonstrations in recent years. Last September, the government banned the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party (HKNP). Its leader, Andy Chan, was disqualified from running for elections, officials insisting that advocating for independence goes against the territory’s Basic Law.

Read more: Hong Kong umbrella movement leaders say ‘freedom is on trial’

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against threats to the authority of Beijing. He has vowed to stop separatist movements from violating territorial integrity, saying he “will never allow any person, any group, any political party” to divide the country.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau: China opens world’s longest sea bridge

Above and under water

On October 23, 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the 55-kilometer (34-mile)-long sea bridge that connects Hong Kong and Macau to the sprawling Pearl River delta economic zone via the Chinese mainland city of Zhuhai. The remarkable structure consists of a meandering bridge and a 6.7-kilometer underwater tunnel between two artificial islands.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau: China opens world’s longest sea bridge

Previous record holder

Previously, the 42-kilometer-long Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, or the Qingdao Bay Bridge, was the longest sea bridge. It is located in Shandong Peninsula and connects the cities of Qingdao and Huangdao.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau: China opens world’s longest sea bridge

Parking islands

The Hong Kong-Macau sea bridge cost the Chinese government 120 billion yuan, equivalent to about €15 billion ($17.2 billion), and its construction took almost a decade. From this artificially created island in Hong Kong, the structure plunges under water. In addition, car and truck drivers can stop here. At least 60,000 cars and 250,000 people are estimated to use this connection daily.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau: China opens world’s longest sea bridge

Expected economic boom

The Chinese government hopes that connecting Hong Kong and Macau to the Pearl River delta area would boost economic activity in the region. Until now residents of Zhuhai, Macau and Hong Kong have used ferries to commute between the three cities.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau: China opens world’s longest sea bridge

Time is money

At a speed of 100 kilometers per hour, the journey time between Hong Kong and Macau should be reduced from three hours by ferry to less than 30 minutes by car. But this is not a bridge anyone can just drive on — for now only the rich or politically well connected residents of Hong Kong and Macau will be able to take their private cars across the bridge.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau: China opens world’s longest sea bridge

Several delays

The bridge should have been officially inaugurated by the end of 2016, but it took longer than expected to open it. The bridge will be open to regular traffic from October 24, 2018. The structure will last up to at least 120 years and can also withstand typhoon winds of up to 340 kilometers per hour.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau: China opens world’s longest sea bridge

A steel and concrete giant

About 400,000 tons of steel was used in the construction of this gigantic bridge. That is 4.5 times more steel than what was used in building the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Chinese authorities say the bridge can not only withstand a magnitude-8 earthquake but also survive collisions with cargo ships.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau: China opens world’s longest sea bridge

Two driving systems

Border controls have been built on crossings in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. One of the problems that drivers face along the bridge deals with right- and left-hand driving systems. The drivers must also have two valid licenses to cross the bridge.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau: China opens world’s longest sea bridge

A controversial ‘white elephant’

The construction of the bridge was delayed due to rising costs, fatal accidents of laborers and corruption allegations. Hong Kong residents fear Beijing will attempt to undermine their partial autonomy through this bridge. Environmentalists warn it would have a devastating impact on endangered pink dolphin species in the Pearl River estuary. Critics also say that the bridge is a waste of money.

Author: Sabrina Müller-Plotnikow (shs)