Feb 29

Feb 29 China: Hong Kong Protest Timeline

Background: Citizens of Hong Kong, since late March 2019, have taken to the streets protesting a Beijing-backed extradition bill which would allow Hong Kongese criminals to be transferred to mainland China for prosecution. Pro-democracy protesters continued demonstrations to express opposition of China’s influence in Hong Kong following the formal revocation of the extradition bill. The continuous protests have led to high tensions between the police and citizens and have interrupted the citizens’ daily life.

February:

February 12: China proposes the Hong Kongese extradition bill, enabling the transfer of criminals between jurisdictions where Hong Kong does not have formal extradition agreements. [i]

March:

March 27: Nine categories of crimes were removed from the extradition bill due to widespread backlash. [i]
March 31: Thousands of protestors take to the streets to protest the new proposed changes to Hong Kong’s extradition laws. [ii]

April:

April 3: Carrie Lam introduces new amendments to Hong Kong’s extradition bill that would allow trials to take place in Mainland China to the Legislative Council. [iii]
April 28: Thousands of protestors peacefully march at Hong Kong’s parliament to protest the new changes to the extradition bill. This was one of Hong Kong’s largest protests in recent years, four times larger than the March 31 protest. [iv]

May:

May 11: Members of the Legislative Council had a physical altercation between pro-Beijing and pro-democracy members. One lawmaker was hospitalized and three others received minor injuries. [iv]
May 21: Despite the amount of disapproval, Carrie Lam releases a statement saying that the administration will continue pushing forward with the new bill. [iii]
May 30: Hong Kong government makes three concessions for the extradition bill. [v]

June:

June 6: Three to four thousand lawyers stage silent protests calling the Bill a threat to the rule of law in Hong Kong. [vi]
June 9: Hundreds of thousands people wearing all black participated in rallies to protest the bill. Chinese state media said that foreign forces seeking "to hurt China by trying to create havoc in Hong Kong" were behind the protest. [vii]
June 12: Protestors block of streets and prevent access to legislative building. Police fire rubber bullets and over 150 canisters of tear gas into the crowd of protesters. [viii]
June 15: Carrie Lam suspends the extradition bill. Protesters demand that the bill be permanently removed and call for Carrie Lam to step down. [ix]
June 20: Protesters marched from the legislative building to surround the police station calling for arrested protesters to be released and charges dropped. [x]
June 30: Protesters storm the legislative building destroying furniture and using spray paint. [xi]

July:

July 1: Police evict protesters from legislative building using tear gas. [xii]
July 9: Carrie Lam in a press conference said the bill is “dead” but would not announce a formal withdrawal. [xiii]
July 21: Masked men attacked protesters in Yuen Long train station on their way home, leaving 45 people injured. The attackers were members of various Hong Kong triads. [xiv]
July 26: Hundreds of people, including airport staff, held a weekend long protest in Hong Kong’s international airport. [xv]
July 27: Protesters deny police ban and protest in a rural town where suspected members of the triad attack on Yuen Long lived. [xvi]

August:

August 5: Multiple protests across the city disrupted traffic leaving over 200 flights canceled and disrupting train services. [xvii]
August 12: Flights were canceled for two days due to sit in protests. Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Housing said about 1,000 flights were canceled. [xviii]
August 18: Largest rally in over two months with organisers reporting over 1 million attendees. [xix]
August 30: Police arrest multiple high-profile activists for inciting the protests around the police station in June. [xx]

September:

September 1: Protesters vandalize Hong Kong airport and connecting subway stations causing delays in airport operations. [xxi]
September 2: Thousands of students boycott the first day of school to join protest. Audio recording of Lam saying she ignited chaos and wanted to resign is leaked. [xxii]
September 4: Carrie Lam announces the proposed extradition bill will be withdrawn soon. Protesters claim this came “too little, too late” to make a difference. [xxiii]
September 8: Protesters march to US consulate demanding the US government pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. [xxiv]
September 10: Boycott launched against pro-Beijing stores and companies. Sing “Glory to Hong Kong” in defiance of Hong Kong government. [xxv]
September 26: Protesters trap Carrie Lam in Queen Elizabeth Stadium for four hours following an attempt to have an open dialogue with protesters. [xxvi]

October:

October 1: A protester is shot in the chest while charging a police officer with a pipe; Protests in opposition to the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. [xxvii]
October 4: Carrie Lam uses an old colonial law to pass an anti-mask law. This backfires and makes protesters more irate. [xxviii]
October 16: The US government passes the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. [xxix]
October 20: A truck with a water-canon laced with blue dye sprays Hong Kong’s largest mosque causing protesters to call out the government for targeting minorities within the city. [xxx]
October 23: The extradition bill is formally withdrawn. [xxxi]
October 24: Rumors that Beijing is looking to replace Lam. [xxxii]

November:

November 2: Police fire tear gas at a non-violent demonstration at Victoria Park. [xxxiii]
November 3: Man stabs four protesters; bites ear off politician at pro-democracy demonstration. [xxxiv]
November 6: Pro-Beijing politician stabbed while campaigning. [xxxv]
November 12: Protesters’ violent clashes with police at the Chinese University of Hong Kong led to security services stating Hong Kong’s rule of law is on the “brink of total collapse.” [xxxvi]
November 17: Protesters begin their barricade of Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, taking steps to fortify the campus against riot police, who threatened to respond to the demonstrations with lethal force. [xxxvii]
November 28: President Trump signed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act into law. The resolution allows sanctions to be placed on the Hong Kong government in the event they violate the one country, two systems structure. [xxxviii]
November 29: Hong Kong police took control of the Polytechnic University campus after two weeks of violent clashes with protesters. [xxxix]

December:

December 7: Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters take to streets in Human Rights Day march, the largest protests in weeks. [xxxx]
December 15: Protesters took the streets ahead of a meeting between Executive Lam and Communist Party officials in Beijing. The demonstrations led to violent clashes between police and protesters with tear gas being deployed. [xxxxi]
December 22: Over 1,000 protesters gathered near the Hong Kong harbor. [xxxxii]
December 28: Protesters clashed with police at a shopping center. The location of the demonstration was an effort to increase pressure on the government through disrupting market activity. [xxxxiii]
December 31: Protesters chanted, “Don't Forget 2019 — Persist in 2020” in New Year’s Eve demonstrations throughout the city. Police deployed 6,000 officers to deal with the planned protests. [xxxxiv]

January:

January 2: Hong Kong Police report arresting 420 protesters, some as young as twelve, during the New Years celebrations. [xxxxv]
January 4: Luo Huining replaces Wang Zhimin as the head of mainland China’s liaison office in Hong Kong. [xxxxvi]
January 19: Police fire tear gas to end protests in Chater Garden after two plain-clothes police officers were beaten by protesters. [xxxxvii]
January 27: A group of protesters lit a planned quarantine area on fire. Protests regarding the government’s handling of the spread of coronavirus. [xxxxviii]

February:

February 12: Hundreds protest at five quarantine sites deemed too close to residential areas as authorities attempt to return stranded Hong Kongers to the area. [xxxxix]

February 21: Protesters gather in public spaces with signs saying “never forgive, never forget,” renewing protests over lack of police response to a mob attack at Yuen Long train station in June. [l]
February 29: Police arrest 115 during the largest violent protest since the outbreak of the Coronavirus. [li]

Sources

[i]. “Hong Kong’s Descent to Emergency Rule: 118 Days.” Bloomberg, 4 October 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/hong-kong-protests-timeline/.

[ii]. “Proposed Hong Kong Extradition Law Changes Spark Concern.” Associated Press, 31 March 2019. Retrieved from: https://apnews.com/ca7519d8097d41888f6ebb2f0d0f2985.

[iii]. “Hong Kong Protests: Timeline of Key Events.” India Today, 4 September 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/hong-kong-protests-timeline-1595413-2019-09-04.

[iv]. “Hong Kong Protests: A Timeline of Events, from the Introduction of the Extradition Bill to the 2 Million Person March and More.” Young Post & South China Morning Post, 9 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://yp.scmp.com/extraditionbilltimeline.

[v]. Chan, Holmes. “Hong Kong Gov’t Announces New Concessions to Extradition Bill After Pressure from Beijing Camp.” Hong Kong Free Press, 30 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/05/30/breaking-hong-kong-security-chief-john-lee-announces-concessions-extradition-bill-pressure-pro-beijing-camp/.

[vi]. “Hong Kong Lawyers Protest ‘Polarizing’ Extradition Bill in Rare March.” The Epoch Times. 6 June 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.theepochtimes.com/hong-kong-lawyers-protest-polarizing-extradition-bill-in-rare-march_2953589.html.

[vii]. Ashok, Sowmiya. “China Blames ‘Foreign Forces’ for Massive Hong Kong Protests Over Extradition Bill.” The Indian Express. 9 June 2019. Retrieved from: https://indianexpress.com/article/world/china-blames-foreign-forces-for-massive-hong-kong-protests-over-extradition-bill-5774169/.

[viii]. “Police Violence Puts Hong Kong Government on Defensive.” The New York Time,. 12 June 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/12/world/asia/hong-kong-protests.html.

[ix]. “Hong Kong Backs Down on Proposed Extradition Law After Massive Protests.” Channel News Asia, 15 June 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-pause-extradition-bill-protests-china-11630154.

[x]. “Hong Kong Protests: Thousands Surround Police Headquarters.” BBC, 21 June 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-48715221.

[xi]. “Hong Kong Protesters Storm Legislature, Smash Doors and Walls.” Al Jazeera, 1 July 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/hong-kong-protesters-storm-legislature-smash-doors-walls-190701132405337.html.

[xii]. “Hong Kong Police Evict Protesters Who Stormed Parliament.” BBC, 2 July 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-48832910.

[xiii]. Mosbergen, Dominique. “Hong Kong Leader Carrie Lam Says Extradition Bill Is ‘Dead’ But Still Won’t Withdraw It.” The Huffington Post, 9 July 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hong-kong-carrie-lam-extradition-bill-dead_n_5d243c20e4b0583e48268522.

[xiv]. “Hong Kong Protests: Were Triads Involved in the Attacks?” BBC, 22 July 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49071502.

[xv]. “Flight Attendants, Airport Staff Join Hong Kong Airport Protest.” Al Jazeera, 26 July 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/flight-attendants-airport-staff-join-hong-kong-airport-protest-190726134046007.html.

[xvi]. Pomfret, James and Zaharia, Marius. “Police Fire Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets in Hong Kong Clash Over Anti-triad March.” Reuters, 26 July 2019. Retrieved from: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-hongkong-extradition-protests/trouble-feared-as-hong-kong-activists-return-to-scene-of-triad-attack-idUKKCN1UM042?il=0.

[xvii]. Huang, Claire. “Flights Cancelled, Train Services Disrupted as Hong Kong Protesters Look to Shut Down City with Strikes, Rallies.” The Straits Times, 5 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hong-kong-protesters-look-to-shut-down-city-with-multiple-strikes.

[xviii]. “Hong Kong Airport Gets Court Injunction to Stop Protesters from Obstructing Operations.” Channel News Asia, 14 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-airport-flights-wednesday-protests-court-injunction-11806876.

[xix]. “Hong Kong Protesters Defy Ban to Return in Huge Numbers for Peaceful Rally.” ABC News, 18 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-19/more-than-one-million-hong-kong-protesters-return-to-mass/11426022.

[xx]. Grundy, Tom. “Hong Kong Pro-democracy Activist Joshua Wong Arrested Over Unauthorised Assembly.” Hong Kong Free Press, 30 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/08/30/breaking-hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong-arrested-party-says/.

[xxi]. “Masked Protesters Wreak Havoc on Hong Kong Airport and Trash Railway Station, Forcing Desperate Travellers to Head to City on Foot”. South China Morning Post. September 1, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3025283/masked-protesters-wreak-havoc-hong-kong-airport-and.

[xxii]. Lily Kuo. “Hong Kong Students Boycott Classes as Chinese Media Warns 'End is Coming'.” The Guardian. September 2, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/02/hong-kong-protests-students-boycott-classes-as-chinese-media-warns-end-is-coming.

[xxiii]. “Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Announces Formal Withdrawal of the Extradition Bill and Sets Up a Platform to Look into Key Causes of Protest Crisis.” South China Morning Post. September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3025641/hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-announce-formal-withdrawal.

[xxiv]. Ben Westcott, Julia Hollingsworth, and Caitlin Hu. “Hong Kong Protesters March to US Consulate to Call for Help from Trump.” CNN. September 8, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/08/asia/hong-kong-us-protests-0809-intl-hnk/index.html.

[xxv]. Clare Jim and James Pomfret. “Hong Kong Protesters Boo Chinese Anthem, as Leader Warns Against Interference.” Reuters. September 10, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-protesters-boo-chinese-anthem-as-leader-warns-against-interference-idUSKCN1VV04O.

[xxvi], Kris Cheng. “Hong Kong’s Carrie Lam Trapped in Stadium for 4 Hours as Protesters Rallied Outside First Town Hall Session.” Hong Kong Free Press. 26 September, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/09/27/hong-kongs-carrie-lam-trapped-stadium-4-hours-protesters-rallied-outside-first-town-hall-session/.

[xxvii]. Mike Ives. “Hong Kong Police Shoot a Protester, 18, with a Live Bullet for the First Time.” The New York Times. October 1, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/01/world/asia/hong-kong-protestor-shot.html.

[xxviii]. Christy Leung. “Anti-mask Law Targeting Hong Kong Protesters Could Come into Force by Midnight on Friday, as Government Considers Invoking Emergency Powers.” South China Morning Post. October 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3031503/anti-mask-law-targeting-hong-kong-protesters-could-come.

[xxix]. Robert Delaney. “Prominent US senators Back Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in Wake of Protest at City US Consulate.” South China Morning Post. October 16, 2019.Retireved from: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3026608/prominent-us-senators-back-hong-kong-human-rights-and-democracy-act.

[xxx]. Justin Soloman. “Water Cannon Sprays Mosque Entrance in Hong Kong.” ABC. October 20, 2019. Retrieved from: https://abcnews.go.com/International/water-cannon-sprays-mosque-entrance-hong-kong/story?id=66417309.

[xxxi]. Justin Soloman. “Hong Kong Extradition Bill Officially Withdrawn.” ABC. October 23, 2019. Retrieved from: https://abcnews.go.com/International/hong-kong-extradition-bill-officially-withdrawn/story?id=66464962.

[xxxii]. Lily Kuo. “China 'Draws Up Plan to Replace Carrie Lam' as Hong Kong Protests Drag on.” The Guardian. October 24, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/23/china-draws-up-plan-to-replace-carrie-lam-as-hong-kong-protests-drag-on-report.

[xxxiii]. “Hong Kong Police Fire Tear Gas in Feverish Start to 22nd Weekend of Protests.” CNBC. November 2, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/02/hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-during-protests.html.

[xxiv]. Sandi Sidhu, Eric Cheung and Sheena McKenzie. “Man's Ear Partially Bitten Off During Knife Attack at Hong Kong Mall.” CNN. November 3, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/03/asia/hong-kong-knife-attack-ear-intl/index.html.

[xxxv]. Ellen Ng. “Pro-Beijing Lawmaker in Hong Kong Stabbed While Campaigning.” AP. November 6, 2019. Retrieved from: https://apnews.com/b10e0eb9b6da48faaf06750fcaaccbd5.

[xxxvi]. “Hong Kong protests: Rule of law on ‘brink of collapse’, police say.” BBC, 12 December 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50384360.

[xxxvii]. Westcott, Ben and Wright, Rebecca, “Hong Kong protesters set fire to entrance of fortified university to hold back police.” CNN, 18 November 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/17/asia/hong-kong-protests-november-17-intl-hnk/index.html.

[xxxviii]. Delaney, Robert and Churchill, Owen, “Donald Trump signs Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act into Law, brushing off China’s warnings.” South China Morning Post, 28 November 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3039673/donald-trump-signs-hong-kong-human-rights-and-democracy-act.

[xxxix]. Ramzy, Austin, “Hong Kong Police End 2-Week Campus Siege.” The New York Times, 29 November 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/29/world/asia/hong-kong-protests-polytechnic.html.

[xxxx]. Hernandez, Javier and Yu, Elaine, “Hong Kong Protests, Largest in Weeks, Stretches Several Miles.” The New York Times, 07 December 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/07/world/asia/hong-kong-protests-us-chamber-commerce.html.

[xxxxi]. “Police fire tear gas at Hong Kong protestors, ending lull.” Politico, 15 December 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/15/tear-gas-hong-kong-086041.

[xxxxii]. Saito, Mari, “Protesters rally near Hong Kong harbor, more demos planned over Christmas.” Reuters, 22 December 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/protesters-rally-near-hong-kong-harbor-more-demos-planned-over-christmas-idUSKBN1YR046.

[xxxxiii]. “Police, protesters clash at Hong Kong shopping centre.” Al Jazeera, 28 December 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/police-protesters-clash-hong-kong-shopping-centre-191228092540433.html.

[xxxxiv]. “Hong Kong kicks off huge NYE protests.” Deutsche Welle, 31 December 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.dw.com/en/hong-kong-kicks-off-huge-nye-protests/a-51843261.

[xxxxv]. Zaharia, Marius and Saito, Mari. “Hundreds arrested in Hong Kong in New Year's Day protests: police.” Reuters, 1 January 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hundreds-arrested-in-hong-kong-in-new-years-day-protests-police-idUSKBN1Z105B.

[xxxxvi]. “China replaces Hong Kong liaison office head amid protests.” Al Jazeera, 4 January 2020. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/china-replaces-hong-kong-liason-office-head-protests-200104112536510.html.

[xxxxvii]. Siu, P., Lum, A. and Low, Z. “Hong Kong protests: two plain-clothes police officers beaten up, tear gas fired and rally organiser arrested as mayhem breaks out in Central.” South China Morning Post, 19 January 2020. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3046726/hong-kong-protests-tear-gas-fired-arrests-rally-universal.

[xxxxviii]. Cranley, Ellen. “Hong Kong protesters set planned quarantine building on fire amid coronavirus concerns.” Business Insider, 27 January 2020. https://www.businessinsider.com/hong-kong-protesters-burned-coronavirus-quarantine-site-2020-1?r=UK&IR=T.

[xxxxix]. Siu, Phila and Ho-him, Chan. “Coronavirus: hundreds protest against Hong Kong quarantine sites in five locations near residential estates.” South China Morning Post, 16 February 2020. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3050875/hundreds-protest-against-quarantine-sites-four.

[l]. “Hong Kong Protesters Gather to Remember Mob Attack in Yuen Long.” Radio Free Asia, 21 February 2020. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-protest-02212020140555.html.

[li]. Leung, C., Chung, K., and Siu, P. “Hong Kong police arrest 115 after biggest outbreak of protest violence since coronavirus crisis.” South China Morning Post, 29 February 2020. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3053025/hong-kong-protests-riot-police-fire-tear-gas-pepper-spray.