Hong Kong braces for new mass protests against planned extraditions to China (updated)

Langham Hospitality Investments

11/06/2019 04:30

* HK chief executive vows to push ahead with extradition
bill
    * Some protesters gather ahead of widespread rallies,
strikes 
    * Bill would allow people to be sent to China for trial
    * 

 (Adds quote from Civil Human Rights Front, hotel)
    By Clare Jim and Jessie Pang
    HONG KONG, June 11 (Reuters) - Hong Kong braced for strikes,
transport go-slows and another mass demonstration in protest
against a proposed extradition law that would allow people to be
sent to China for trial, as the Chinese-ruled city's leader
vowed defiance. 
    Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she would push
ahead with the bill despite deep concerns across vast swaths of
the Asian financial hub that triggered its biggest political
demonstration since its handover from British to Chinese rule in
1997.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N23HHAD  
    In a rare move, prominent business leaders warned that
pushing through the extradition law could undermine investor
confidence in Hong Kong and erode its competitive advantages.
    The extradition bill, which has generated unusually broad
opposition at home and abroad, is due for a second round of
debate on Wednesday in the city's 70-seat Legislative Council.
The legislature is controlled by a pro-Beijing majority.
    An online petition has called for 50,000 people to surround
the legislature building at 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Tuesday and
remain until Wednesday.
    Britain handed Hong Kong back to China under a "one-country,
two-systems" formula, with guarantees that its autonomy and
freedoms, including an independent justice system, would be
protected.
    But many accuse China of extensive meddling, denying
democratic reforms, interfering with local elections and the
disappearance of five Hong Kong-based booksellers, starting in
2015, who specialised in works critical of Chinese leaders.
    Sunday's protests plunged Hong Kong into political crisis,
just as months of pro-democracy "Occupy" demonstrations did in
2014, heaping pressure on Lam's administration and her official
backers in Beijing.
    She warned against any "radical actions", following clashes
in the early hours of Monday between some protesters and police
after Sunday's otherwise peaceful march. 
    Police erected metal barriers to secure the council building
as a small number of protesters started to gather on Tuesday
evening despite torrential rain and thunderstorm warnings.
Police conducted random ID checks at train stations. 
    Pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo urged people to join the
rally and encouraged businesses to strike "for a day, or two, or
probably for one whole week".
    Nearly 2,000 mostly small retail shops, including
restaurants, grocery, book and coffee shops, have announced
plans to strike, according to an online survey, a rare move in
the staunchly capitalist economy. 
    Eaton HK Hotel, which is owned by Langham Hospitality
Investments  1270.HK  and operated by Great Eagle Holdings
 0041.HK , said it respected workers' "political stances" and
would allow them to rally. 
    The student union of several higher education institutions
and the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union urged people to
strike on Wednesday. Nearly 4,000 teachers said they would
rally.
    Human rights groups have repeatedly cited the alleged use of
torture, arbitrary detentions, forced confessions and problems
accessing lawyers in China, where the courts are controlled by
the Communist Party, as reasons why the Hong Kong bill should
not proceed.
    "When the fugitive extradition bill is passed, Hong Kong
will become a 'useless Hong Kong'" said Jimmy Sham, convenor of
Civil Human Rights Front. "We will be deep in a place where
foreign investors are afraid to invest and tourists are afraid
to go. Once the 'Pearl of the Orient' (it) will become nothing."
    The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong called on the government
not to pass the bill "hurriedly" and urged all Christians to
pray for the former colony.    
    A staff union affiliated to a pro-democracy labour group
under the New World First Bus Company called on its members to
drive at the speed of 20-25 kmh (12-15 mph) to show their
opposition to the proposed law.
    A Facebook post called on people to enjoy a picnic next to
government offices on Wednesday, describing the area as "among
the best picnic sites". The post has attracted close to 10,000
responses from people promising to attend.
    Beijing-based consultancy Gavecal said some bankers in Hong
Kong were reporting that many mainland clients were shifting
their accounts to Singapore, fearing they could come under
scrutiny in the financial hub. 
    
    "MISSTEPS COULD BE COSTLY"
    Many residents of the financial centre, both expatriate and
local, are increasingly unnerved by Beijing's tightening grip
over the city. 
    China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Hong Kong
matters are purely a Chinese internal affair and China demands
the United States stops interfering in Hong Kong's affairs.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nB9N22W00F
    The comments came after Washington said on Monday it was
gravely concerned about the proposed law and warned that such a
move could jeopardise the special status Washington affords Hong
Kong.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N23H1E0
    Prominent business figures urged the government to tread
cautiously to protect Hong Kong's competitiveness. 
    "The integrity and independence of (Hong Kong's) legal
system are absolutely central to Hong Kong's future," said Fred
Hu, founder and chairman of China-based private equity firm,
Primavera Capital Group. 
    Activist investor David Webb, in a post on Lam's Facebook
page, urged her to send the bill to the Law Reform Commission
for further study. 
    "If you press ahead and bulldoze the bill through LegCo,
then you will probably get the legislation passed, but at huge
political cost and damage to the international credibility of HK
for due process when reforming its legislation," Webb said.

 (Additional reporting by Kane Wu, James Pomfret, Greg Torode,
Anne Marie Roantree, Felix Tam and Vimvam Tong; Writing by Anne
Marie Roantree; Editing by Paul Tait and Nick Macfie)
 ((annemarie.roantree@thomsonreuters.com; +852 97387151; Reuters
Messaging: annemarie.roantree.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))