64 事件

Is it a co-incidence that separated by 30 years the 2019 extradition bill and the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest both took place on 4 June? In the year 1989 Beijing 64事件 stirred up the whole world when the student protesters who thought they could change and influence the government were tragically instead killed.
“Yes we can,” was the famous speech by President Obama in 2008 in the US. People in Hong Kong thought Hong Kong could too.

30 years on, 4 June 2019 once again became an unforgettable day: 612 people being arrested and 118 tear gas canisters being shot by police - for the first time in 30 years, which also happened to be the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protest. In a similar fashion, the 2019 extradition bill protest was also led by students. The cause was to protest against a draft law proposed that would allow criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China.

Once could say both incidents had similarities yet again in the number 7. Beijing 64 事件 had 5 military tanks driving into the crowed at Tiananmen Square to disperse the protestors, but it was tank number 7 that was stopped by a lone protester who was named Tank Man.

On the other hand 612 protestors were arrested in 7 Hong Kong districts. Police admitted firing 118 tear gas canisters to stop the protesters - the number 118 corresponds with their emergency telephone number.

The extradition bill protest that was originally caused by a legal loophole in Hong Kong, was perceived by many as the first step for the central government to encroach upon the city’s freedoms.

“No we can’t,” must have been in the minds of Hong Kong people at that time - but they had little option but to give in after 77 days of protesting. However, they did achieve their intended goal of ultimately forcing the Hong Kong government to withdraw the proposed extradition bill. In other words, “Yes we can,” they said.

The extradition bill protest also led to another movement: the Anti-ELAB movement (反送中). The Anti-ELAB movement was a series of anti-government protests in Hong Kong that began in March 2019. The protests were sparked by the Hong Kong government's proposed extradition bill, which would have allowed the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China.

The Anti-ELAB movement was characterized by large-scale protests, civil disobedience, and violent clashes between protesters and police. The protests were largely leaderless and were organized through social media and online forums.

The Anti-ELAB movement was the largest sustained protest movement in Hong Kong's history. It had a significant impact on Hong Kong society and led to the resignation of the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam. The movement also raised concerns about the future of Hong Kong's autonomy and its relationship with mainland China.

In the end, the Anti-ELAB movement was unable to achieve its goal of completely withdrawing the extradition bill. However, it did succeed in forcing the Hong Kong government to make a number of concessions, including the withdrawal of the bill and the establishment of an independent inquiry into the police's handling of the protests.