Opinion | The Hong Kong protests are more than they appear

Valerie Chan 
Staff Writer

In light of recent protests, I have one thing to say: please hear out the citizens of Hong Kong.

In June, the people of Hong Kong came out to the streets, blocked roads, traffic and even the airport in order to protest a newly created controversial extradition law. The law states that any mainland Chinese individual in Hong Kong that has committed a crime must be sent back to China to stand trial rather than stay in Hong Kong.

As news of these protests has surged, many people have wondered, “Why can’t Hong Kong comply with China and avoid all this unnecessary drama?” I’m here to tell you that the political history between Hong Kong and China is much more controversial and complicated than you may think. 

For over 150 years, Hong Kong was under British control until the city returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) and was given autonomy to dictate its own democratic rights, such as freedom of religion and speech. This agreement between China and Hong Kong became infamous: “one country, two systems.”

Since then, Hong Kong’s democracy has been threatened over and over again. In the past decade, there have been countless protests against the threat of communism and the possibility that Hong Kong’s independence could be completely stripped away. These recent protests are another prime example of the Chinese government’s infiltration within Hong Kong’s government and the complete disrespect toward the freedom of its citizens. 

It’s time for Hong Kong to be given a global voice. It’s time for citizens to be heard after a decade of oppression and social injustices committed against them. It’s time to realize that these protests are not connected to just one law – they are the result of deeper historical roots than one could imagine. These protests are a cry against all other countless protests in the past and most importantly, the chance that democracy can become lost in this day and age. 

How many more times do pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have to be arrested? How many more times do Hong Kong citizens have to face the wrath of police brutality just for standing up for their rights? I believe that it’s time for action.