2019–20 Hong Kong protests Facts for Kids

Hundreds of thousands of people protesting
in white on 9 June (left); and in black 16 June (right).

The 2019-20 Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests were caused by the the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2019 proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. Many protests were held in Hong Kong and other cities around the world, protesting against the bill.

People worried that the bill would cause the city to open itself up to the reach of mainland Chinese law and that people from Hong Kong could become subject to a different legal system.

Various protests have been launched in Hong Kong by the general public and legal communities. Among these, the 9 June protest organised by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), had 1.03 million people protest on the streets. Protests in other places were also launched by overseas Hongkongers and locals.

Despite the widespread demonstrations, the government initially insisted on the bill's passage, saying that the bill was urgent and that the legal "loophole" should be fixed. On 15 June 2019, Carrie Lam announced the suspension of the bill. On 4 September, Lam promised that the bill would be withdrawn when the Legislative Council started again in October. The government formally withdrew the bill on 23 October.

2014 Hong Kong protests

Images for kids

Police used tear gas to disperse protesters gathering outside the Legislative Council Complex on 12 June 2019.
Marco Leung Ling-kit on scaffolding at Pacific Place before he fell to his death on 15 June
Protesters briefly occupied the Legislative Council Complex on 1 July 2019.
Protesters pointing their laser pointers at a newspaper outside the Space Museum, mocking an earlier police demonstration that aimed to illustrate the danger of laser pointers, which was seized from an arrested student-union president
The police confronted the protesters at the entrance of the Chinese University of Hong Kong on 12 November 2019.
Protesters in Yau Ma Tei on 18 November 2019 as they attempted to breach the police's cordon line to break through to protesters trapped inside Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Protesters flood the streets during the New Year's march
The national security law banned anyone from shouting or displaying the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times" (Chinese: 光復香港，時代革命), which has achieved mainstream adoption since July 2019.
Civic Party promoting the primaries as the democrats aspired to secure a majority in LegCo. Four candidates from the party were disqualified by the government.
Former lawmaker Nathan Law met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in July 2020, discussing matters concerning the national security law, the pro-democratic primaries, and the LegCo election.
White-clad men assaulted commuters and protesters with sticks inside Yuen Long station on 21 July 2019.
A subway near Tai Po Market station, dubbed the "Lennon Tunnel"
Pepe the Frog became a symbol of resistance during the protests. "Give me Liberty or Give me Death!" alludes to Patrick Henry's speech in support of the American Revolution.
A Winnie the Pooh toy used to symbolise Xi Jinping with the Chinazi flag stuck on it and a swastika shaped Chinese Flag attached on its chest, used in the 1 December 2019 protests
Protesters adopted the black bloc method and wore helmets and respirators to protect themselves. Yellow hard hats became a symbol for the protest movement
A "smart" lamppost was destroyed by protesters on 24 August 2019, due to understanding that it could be used for surveillance
Stand News journalist Gwyneth Ho was attacked by a stick-wielding man during the Yuen Long attack on 21 July 2019.
Police near Lan Kwai Fong, Central on 31 October 2019. Police were accused of obstructing reporters from taking photographs by shining flashlights at them.
Protest at the Hong Kong International Airport on 26 July 2019
District councillors collaborated with shops supporting the Yellow Economic Circle to organise a Lunar New Year Fair in Sai Ying Pun on 18 January 2020.
Elderly marching on 17 July 2019 to support young people's anti-extradition bill protests
Activists including Joshua Wong and Nathan Law met House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Representative Chris Smith at the US Congress.

2019–20 Hong Kong protests facts for kids

Related pages

Images for kids

See also