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
