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> They've made it. The Chief Executive apologized and the government has suspended the fugitive law amendment. That's really a RARE concession in these years b
by hker 7y ago
> They've made it. The Chief Executive apologized and the government has suspended the fugitive law amendment. That's really a RARE concession in these years because the Chinese government typically doesn't compromise at all under pressure.
First, the government is suspending the law amendment, not retracting it. The law amendment could be revived in a month or two--that is, after enough leaders have been arrested and the protest cools down, just like how they cold-handled the Umbrella protest in 2014, or many other protests in China--for all we know now.
Second, the government is arresting people under the charge of "riot" [1]--despite HN'ers labeling such protest as non-violent, the charge of riot means a maximum term of 10 years--and they arrest people even by violating patients' privacy and eroding trust from patients to doctors [2]. If charged, some protesters have to pay a high price, joining others who have been paying the price due to Umbrella protest.
I would not say they have made it until the law is at least retracted.
[1]: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/06/13/hong-kong-protesters-charged-rioting-hospital-visit/ https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/06/13/hong-kong-protesters-c...
[2]: https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/c0l9vl/hk_hospital_authority_has_issued_this_letter_to/ https://www.reddit.com/r/HongKong/comments/c0l9vl/hk_hospita...
- swjz 7y agoI agree with you that the government should release all protesters arrested. I actually don't care about the difference between "suspension without timetable for restarting" and "retraction" because even if the government had completely retracted the amendment, they could draft another amendment anytime anyway.
- loyukfai 7y agoYes, but many of the HK protesters, somehow, became obsessed with the terminology. It's part of a broader war between the government and the opposing faction.
- GordonS 7y agoI don't think this is quibbling over terminology - "suspending" is a temporary measure, and governments being governments, there's every chance it would be "unsuspended" once the protesters melt away.
- loyukfai 7y ago>because even if the government had completely retracted the amendment, they could draft another amendment anytime anyway. Now that Carrie Lam has realised that she cannot do whatever she wants (at least on this issue). The criteria, if or when the this amendment will re-surface, will depend on public opinions, instead of whether it's temporarily suspended, or retracted.
- anigbrowl 7y agoWhat is the situation with bail in HK? In the US authorities often settle for incremental policy creep while counting on using legal and medical expenses to wear down activists in addition to physical violence. People stateside have been very impressed with action in HK, taking notes on topics from communications to practicalities like quick extinguishing of gas grenades. Here it's often difficult to achieve sufficient density due to geographic dispersion as well as different political conditions.