The Word is Out

Protesters send an urgent message to the UK

The protesters against the extradition bill have raised over HK$6.7 million to spend on advertisements in national newspapers of countries participating in the G20 tomorrow and Saturday.

The ads began appearing today in The Guardian, The Globe and Mail and Süddeutsche Zeitung, a German paper.

This time the protesters are spreading the word internationally, and urging world leaders to say something about Hong Kong at the G20 in Osaka. The campaign, swiftly organized, is  unprecedented, and will be interesting to see how the advertisements are received.

Earlier today about 100 protesters descended on Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah's office, demanding she withdraw the extradition bill and not prosecute the protesters that have been arrested. They blocked the roads and entrances, so Cheng's staff had to leave early in the afternoon.

This weekend will be interesting. Apparently on Sunday there will be a march supporting the Hong Kong police force...

And Monday, the July 1 anniversary of the handover will surely be a tense one -- organizers of the annual flag raising ceremony next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai will be scaled back significantly, while the march in the afternoon is expected to be a big one....

Never a dull moment in Hong Kong these days...

The Same Mind-Numbing Refrain

Perhaps China can't explain why 2 million people came out to protest?

The G20 Summit will be held in Osaka, Japan later this week on June 28-29 and already the Chinese government has warned that the subject of Hong Kong is off-limits.

"I can tell you for sure that the G20 will not discuss the affairs of Hong Kong. We will not allow the G20 to talk about Hong Kong matters," said China's assistant minister of foreign affairs Zhang Jun today (Monday).

Zhang Jun warns not to talk about Hong Kong at the G20

"Hong Kong is China's special administrative region. Hong Kong matters are purely an internal affair to China. No foreign country has the right to interfere," Zhang said.

Why does China get to decide what can and cannot be talked about at the G20?

The proposed extradition law affects EVERYONE who passes through or lives or does business in Hong Kong. This is not an internal affair. It's EVERYONE'S affair.

This is why almost 2 million people marched on the streets and are prepared to clash with police because it is a serious issue that affects everyone's livelihoods.

But perhaps China is trying to prevent others from talking about it because if criticized about it, the government doesn't have any good reasons to explain why the extradition bill should be passed. But why should it worry anyway? It was initiated by the Hong Kong government anyway... right?

Protesters are prepared to clash wit police if necessary

For sure this will entice reporters covering the G20 Summit to be more daring and ask not only China but other countries about Hong Kong after Jun warned: "No matter at what venue, using any method, we will not permit any country or person to interfere in China's internal affairs."

How can China stop free speech in Japan at an international event? Everyone has a right to say whatever they want. They are not on Chinese soil.

We shall see which countries' leaders are courageous enough to speak out as well. How many will be squirming? We will be counting.