Hong Kong existed under British rule until 1997, when it was then reincorporated into China and granted partial autonomy from the mainland. However, over the years, China has increasingly asserted dominance over Hong Kong.
When Hong Kong rejoined, China agreed to let the city have an independent judiciary and free press. However, the mainland has tightened its grip in recent years through acts like jailing anti-government activists, removing pro-democracy leaders, and building costly infrastructure to better connect itself to Hong Kong.
(Source: The Guardian)
After news of the extradition policy broke earlier this year, a pro-democracy group called Civil Human Rights Front began organizing peaceful demonstrations and marches.
A demonstration organized by the group in June brought an estimated two million people out to the streets, though some estimates have placed the crowd number as much higher.
The activists — who are largely young digital natives — continue to organize with the help of secure messaging apps like Telegram and Google Maps to help share march routes and other pertinent information. These tools have helped the group work toward fighting mainland China's efforts to place them closer to a surveillance state of techno-authoritarianism.
Source: Business Insider
The protests and riots have persisted for the past two months, as tension between Hong Kong and mainland China grows. On Sunday, activists took to the Chinese government's liaison office, on the most visible signs of the mainland's presence in Hong Kong.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdThe group defaced the building, including spray-painting the national emblem of the People's Republic of China.
The protest ultimately led to police force, as men in uniform used tear gas and rubber bullets against the activists.
The scene was mass chaos.
Gas and bullets were everywhere.
There were also burning barriers.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdElsewhere in Hong Kong, a pro-Beijing group attacked protesters and journalists as with baseball bats and sticks as they exited a subway stop.
As the protests escalate, It remains to be seen what will happen in the fight against extradition.