Violence in Hong Kong intensifies as protesters grow more desperate

Foreign Policy reports that protests in Hong Kong reached an all-time high last weekend as an unarmed protester was shot with live rounds by Hong Kong police, and a Beijing supporter was set on fire. These protests began this past summer in response to an extradition bill that would have allowed the government to extradite people to mainland China. With the suspension and later withdrawal of the bill, the protests have turned into a general pro-democracy movement. In the months since they started, violence has been escalating on both sides of the police and the protesters with South China Morning Post calling this latest incident ‘one of Hong Kong’s most violent days yet.’ The effects on the city have been significant––MTR closures, airport protests, and the increasing violence have pushed Hong Kong’s once booming tourism industry into a nosedive. Tourism represents a substantial part of Hong Kong’s economy and the impact has sent the city into a recession since October. 

Internationally, sympathies mainly lie with the Hong Kong protesters, with many wondering if the situation in Hong Kong will deteriorate to a point where we’ll see a ‘Tiananmen 2.0’. However, many locals feel that the situation has gone too far as they experience layoffs, closures, and an unstable business environment. According to BBC, the protesters will settle for five demands: 1) that the protests are not be characterized as riots; 2) that arrested protesters are granted amnesty; 3) that the police brutality is investigated; 4) that the extradition bill be withdrawn; and 5) that complete universal suffrage is implemented. The fourth demand has already been met and the last demand, universal suffrage, was the main demand of the umbrella movement protests in 2014. This movement achieved no concessions from the Chinese government and the current protests promise much the same. Jude Blanchette in Foreign Policy argues that, because of the unremarkable outcome of the Umbrella Movement, today’s protesters feel a new sense of desperation and urgency to hold fast to their demands and “never surrender.” 

With both the Chinese government and the protesters refusing to concede, the violence will only intensify. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Monday night, “If there’s still any wishful thinking that by escalating violence, the Hong Kong government will yield to pressure, to satisfy the so-called political demands, I’m making this statement clear and loud here: that will not happen.” This  by Carrie Lam, reported by BBC, reflects the Chinese government’s resolve to not give in to the protesters’ demands. While the protests are getting sympathy and attention worldwide, within China, local news sources have labelled them as a Western plot masterminded to undermine China on a global stage. Because of this, the sympathies do not extend to mainland China, where the government’s grip is the strongest. 

So far, there has only been one fatality as a direct result of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, but as live rounds increasingly replace tear gas and rubber bullets, we can expect this number to rise. In an either/or scenario, the protesters are sure to come out on the losing side. Beijing’s constant propaganda ensures a supportive base on the mainland, and it is domestically too strong to give in to all of the protesters’ demands. Between the choices of compromise or crackdown, the government will likely choose the latter. However, the protesters are risking a lot to fight for their values, and we can hope that this pro-democracy protest, unlike the umbrella movement, is not so easily swept under the rug. Although they may be unsuccessful in securing universal suffrage, the protesters’ voices have been heard and perhaps, Beijing will yield to some of their lesser demands.