On Thursday, June 9, some Hong Kong citizens climbed up to the local landmark Lion Rock and held up lighted signs of “Glory HK.” Although it was rainy and the Rock was shrouded in heavy fog, the message shone through, high up on top of Lion Rock.
June 9 marks the third anniversary of the Anti-Extradition Mass Protests with 1.03 million participants. At approximately 9 pm, some citizens were seen on top of Lion Rock, holding up lighted signs of “Glory HK.” Although Lion Rock was shrouded in heavy fog, the sign was clearly seen by people.
It seems to suggest that even though Hong Kong is shrouded in fog, glory is still with the people of Hong Kong. The famous landmark is widely regarded by the locals as the symbol of the spirit of Hong Kong people.
Three years ago in 2019, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government submitted a bill to the Legislative Council for the transfer of suspects to jurisdictions such as mainland China, Macau, and Taiwan. The proposal was prompted by the murder of Poon Hiu-wing, a suspect who was wanted in Taiwan for killing his girlfriend when they were traveling in Taiwan.
As Hong Kong law did not have extradition agreements with Taiwan, Poon could not be handed over. The SAR government claimed that the exclusion of Mainland China and Macau from the original Surrender of Fugitive Offenders Ordinance was also a “legal flaw and loophole.”
As soon as the bill was introduced, people across Hong Kong were concerned that Hong Kong’s independent jurisdiction might be undermined. On May 20 of the same year, the SAR Government requested the Legislative Council to bypass the Bills Committee and go straight to the Legislative Council on June 12 to deliberate on the bill.
On June 9, 2019, the Hong Kong Civil Human Rights Front organized a march to oppose the amendment of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance (also known as the “Surrender of China Ordinance).”
According to the organization, 1.03 million people participated in the march, which was twice as many as the July 1 March in 2003. The Civil Human Rights Front had planned to march from Victoria Park at around 2:30 pm to the Legislative Council, but until about 9:00 pm, the tail of the march was still seen in the vicinity of Southorn Playground in Wan Chai, and people continued to join in the march along the way.