[NEWS] Hong Kong protesters on the march after plea to colonial power UK – Loganspace AI

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[NEWS] Hong Kong protesters on the march after plea to colonial power UK – Loganspace AI


HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hundreds of Hong Kong reliable-democracy protesters marched below a sea of umbrellas on Sunday after hundreds had sung “God Establish the Queen” open air the British Consulate disturbing that the old colonial vitality ensures China honours the metropolis’s freedoms.

An anti-govt protester holds up a Union Jack flag and a placard with a likeness of Queen Elizabeth at the British consulate Standard in Hong Kong, China, September 15, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

High-designate shops in the Causeway Bay wanting district and the Central enterprise space to the west closed their shutters in case of a return to the mob violence of ultimate weekend.

The Chinese language-dominated territory has been rocked by better than three months of infrequently violent protests, with demonstrators excited about what they stare as creeping interference by Beijing in their metropolis’s affairs despite a promise of autonomy.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration, signed in 1984, lays out Hong Kong’s future after its return to China in 1997, a “one nation, two systems” system that ensures freedoms now now not enjoyed on the mainland.

“Sino-British Joint Declaration is VOID,” one placard learn in the train open air the British Consulate.

“SOS Hong Kong,” learn one other.

“One nation, two systems is ineffective,” protesters shouted in English below umbrellas shielding them from the sub-tropical solar, some carrying the colonial flag furthermore bearing the Union Jack. “Free Hong Kong.”

Some broke correct into a chorus of “Rule Britannia”.

The protesters handed in a petition and drifted away as thousands had been heading in their route alongside the artery of Hennessy Avenue where the “ding ding” trams have urge for better than 100 years.

Gas masks had been being handed out below the veil of umbrellas in case of trudge gas, however many protesters showed their faces and most simplest wore surgical masks.

SHUTTERS CLOSE JUST IN CASE

Main shops in Central and Causeway Bay closed their shutters in case of the violence that has damaged out on outdated weekends when protesters trashed metro stations and set up of residing boulevard fires, with the police responding with trudge gas, rubber bullets and water canon.

Many protesters at the British Consulate held flyers calling for “equal rights” for his or her British Nationwide (In a international nation) passports.

With many younger folks attempting to gain routes out of Hong Kong, campaigners verbalize Britain have to still alternate the set up of residing of the British Nationwide (In a international nation) passport, a category created, on sure prerequisites, for after Britain returned Hong Kong to China.

The passports let a holder search the advice of with Britain for six months, however attain now now not come with an computerized stunning to are living or work there.

“I’m here to request the UK give protection to our electorate’ rights in Hong Kong and insist up for Hong Kong below the Joint Declaration,” Jacky Tsang, 25, told Reuters.

The spark for the protests used to be deliberate guidelines, now withdrawn, that will have allowed folks to be sent to mainland China for trial, despite Hong Kong having its have famous-respected neutral judiciary.

The protests have since broadened into calls for traditional suffrage.

‘LEGALLY BINDING’

China says it is committed to the “one nation, two systems” association, denies meddling and says the metropolis is an within Chinese language scenario. It has accused international powers, in particular the United States and Britain, of fomenting the unrest and told them to mind their have enterprise.

Britain says it has a lawful responsibility to fetch obvious that China abides by the 1984 declaration.

Hong Kong island used to be granted to Britain “in perpetuity” in 1842 at the stop of the First Opium Battle. Kowloon, a peninsula on the mainland reverse Hong Kong island, joined later, after the 2d Opium Battle.

The colony used to be expanded to encompass the Unusual Territories, to the north of Kowloon, on a ninety 9-one year rent, in 1898.

Britain returned all the territory to China, which now not in any appreciate recognised the “unequal treaties”, in 1997.

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“The Joint Declaration is a legally binding treaty between the UK and China that stays as reliable at the novel time as it used to be when it used to be signed and ratified over 30 years previously,” a British International Stutter of work spokeswoman said in June.

“As a co-signatory, the UK govt will continue to defend our voice.”

But it completely used to be now now not at the moment sure what Britain would perhaps or would would favor to achieve to defend that voice. It is miles pinning its hopes on closer alternate and investment cooperation with China, which since 1997 has risen to turn into the enviornment’s 2nd-biggest financial system, after it leaves the European Union at the stop of subsequent month.

Additional reporting by Twinnie Siu, Alun John, Jessie Pang and Farah Grasp; Writing by Nick Macfie; Modifying by Robert Birsel and Himani Sarkar

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