HONG KONG: Hong Kong protesters marched to major consulates on Wednesday as they called on G20 nations to confront fellow member China at an upcoming summit in Japan over sliding freedoms in the financial hub.
The semi-autonomous city has been shaken by huge demonstrations this month with protesters demanding the withdrawal of a bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland.
The massive rallies are the latest manifestation of growing fears that China is stamping down on the city’s unique freedoms and culture.
China has said it will not allow discussion of the protests in Hong Kong at the G20 summit in Osaka later this week —although US President Donald Trump has said he plans to raise the issue during a planned meeting with President Xi Jinping.
Hong Kong protesters have seized on the impending gathering of the world leaders to raise awareness of their movement and pile pressure on both Xi and the city’s pro-Beijing leader, Carrie Lam.
Throughout Wednesday, around 1,000 demonstrators — many holding “Please liberate Hong Kong” placards or chanting “Help Hong Kong” — shuttled between the city’s G20 consulates to hand-in petitions and plead with envoys to lobby their governments back home.
One protester, who gave his surname as Lau, said the international community had a right to talk about Hong Kong’s future because of its role as a major global trading hub. – AFP
