Fear of eroding freedoms in Hong Kong

Steps by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments in recent years have raised fears among residents that the freedoms they enjoy in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory are being eroded 


2003: Proposed changes to Hong Kong’s security laws bring thousands onto the streets in largest protest since British colony returned to China in 1997

2014: Umbrella Movement protesters demanding direct elections for Hong Kong’s leader, lay siege to
government headquarters for 79 days but fail to win any concessions

2015: Five people working for city bookshop that published material banned on mainland China go missing – they appear later on China’s state-run TV confessing alleged crimes

2017: Chinese President Xi Jinping warns Hong Kong not to cross “red line” over sovereignty during swearing-in of city’s new leader Carrie Lam

Sep: Chinese police allowed to operate in new station linking Hong Kong to China’s high-speed rail
network – first time Chinese criminal law is enforced in territory

Hong Kong bans Hong Kong National Party (HKNP), which advocates independence for territory, on national security grounds

Jan 2018: Gui Minhai (below), one of Hong Kong booksellers arrested in 2015, detained again while travelling on train with two Swedish diplomats

Feb 2019: China announces plans to create Greater Bay Area encompassing Hong Kong, Macau and Guandong province on mainland to spur economy

Apr: Hong Kong court finds nine leaders of 2014 Umbrella Movement guilty of public nuisance crimes

Jun: Hundreds of thousands protest in Hong Kong against extradition bill that would see residents wanted in China for specific crimes sent there for trial


Sources: AP, Reuters, BBC 
Pictures: Getty Images 
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