Hong Kong’s Towering Inferno

 

For the first time China by-passes Hong Kong’s parliament  to pass laws that hold criminal penalties, after Beijing  declared it would implement national security laws in Hong Kong with legislation enacted early this month.

Hong Kong burned with anti-government protests sparked by a government proposal to introduce a controversial extradition law, which grew into pro-democracy movement that engulfed the city for months as protesters fought street battles with police, and the unrest brought the People’s Liberation Army to the very doorstep of Hong Kong.

The announcement, which several Hong Kong legal eagles believe that they violates the city’s mini constitution sparked renewed street protests. Beijing’s desire to  impose anti-subversion laws sparked by events of 2029 street protests and the hard line response from angry Chinese leadership.

Hong Kong’s youth protesters with their  “Be Water” philosophy borrowed from hometown hero Bruce Lee, this leaderless technology driven protest movement defied a global superpower and although changed Hong Kong forever, changed China and challenged China’s global standing.

Dapiran gives a graphic account of the protests, reveals the activists’ unique tactics and explains how the movement fits into the City’s long history of dissent .

Hong Kong’s corporate lawyer with over two decades of experience, Dapiran  spells out the official Chinese government narrative used to legitimise its rule in the city and highlights the systematic problems faced the former British colony, and says ‘It is not democracy but a City ruled in effect by an alliance  of local government and the Beijing authorities and the city’s all-powerful real estate tycoons.”

As Beijing tightens its grip by using the territory’s legal system as a tool to achieve their political objectives.

The events of 2019 highlighted the growing reach of China’s ruling Communist Party, As `Hong Kong democracy supporters  clashed on streets and campuses around the world with those who supported Beijing.

Global brands from Cathay Pacific to Apple faced pressure from Beijing as UK banks like HSBC and Standard Chartered declared support for national security law last week.

Their is a deep sense of hopelessness which permeates from the book, as `Hong Kong will eventually become just another mainland Chinese city.

City on Fire: the Fight for Hong Kong by Anthony Dapiran, Scribe £9.99,  336 pages.