Hong Kong – the people’s revolution against the Party

The Warsaw Institute Review has the honor to announce the upcoming expert debate „Hong Kong – the people’s revolution against the Party” on Wednesday, June RD at 20:00 (CET).

Hong Kong’s protests began over summer in 2019, initially expressing opposition to the proposed extradition law, which would have obliged the relocation of fugitives to mainland China. Incrementally, the demonstrations’ scope and participation evolved into a much broader and protracted anti-government movement, inducing increasingly violent clashes between protesters and police throughout the city. Social unrest continues during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the closure of some parts of the city.

The protester’s „five demands, not one less” are:
• Complete withdrawal of the extradition bill from the legislative process
• Retraction of the “riot” characterization
• Release and exoneration of arrested protesters
• Establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into police conduct and use of force during the protests
• Resignation of Carrie Lam, the implementation of universal suffrage for Legislative Council elections and for the election of the Chief Executive

Having been launched four and a half years after the “Umbrella Revolution”, the protests persisted for nearly half a year, until the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic slows the activities of the protesters. Nevertheless, in May the protests began to gain strength and momentum again, and with intensification resumed for the present, there do not seem to be any prospects for reconciliation between the parties.

The Wednesday event will be attended by:

– Minister Anna Fotyga – in 2006–2007 Minister of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the Committee for European Integration, currently a member of Committee on Foreign Affairs & Subcommittee on Security and Defence, in 2007–2008 head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, Member of the Sejm of the 7th term, Member of the European Parliament of the 6th, 8th and 9th term.
– Benedict Rogers – the co-founder and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hong Kong Watch, human rights activist specializing in Asia.

Host: Michał Oleksiejuk – Advisor to the Washington-based Warsaw Institute Foundation

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