News outlets around the world have shown their support for the protesters in Hong Kong by publishing a public letter written by Hong Kong citizens.
The public letter, titled “Stand with Hong Kong at G20,” was published in Britain’s The Guardian, Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung, Canada’s The Globe and Mail and other major newspapers.
The letter told how two million people marched in defense of human rights and demanded Hong Kong authorities retract a controversial extradition bill and release protesters arrested on June 12.
On June 12, about 1.3 million protested against a controversial extradition bill that could potentially make citizens political targets. The protest resulted in a clash which saw Hong Kong police fire rubber bullets and tear gas at unarmed, peaceful protesters. Since then, organizations around the world have condemned the police over the excessive use of force.
The letter that was published carried five key demands – which were made by citizens in protests after June 12. 1) The total withdrawal of the extradition bill; 2) The unconditional release of all arrested protesters without any threat of future prosecution; 3) The renunciation of the June 12 protests being characterized as “riots”; 4) The appointment of an independent commission to look into the excessive force used by the police on June 12; 5) Universal suffrage for Hong Kong citizen to elect a democratic government.
People in Hong Kong were able to raise up to HK$6.7 million from online forums like lihkg.com in order to gain the attention of world leaders at the G20 Summit.
The Guardian was first to publish “Stand with Hong Kong at G20” on June 27.
The 2019 G20 Summit is now being held in Osaka, Japan, from June 28 to June 29. G20 chairman and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reportedly spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping about Hong Kong. Abe stated that Hong Kong’s freedom under the “one country, two systems” was very important for the city’s prosperity.
A group of Hong Kong citizens also showed up at Osaka’s Namba station to urge world leaders at the G20 to assist Hong Kong. US President Donald Trump was specifically asked to put pressure on Chinese authorities.
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Read: Police criticized for firing tear gas, rubber bullets at protesters