While standing to form the Hong Kong Way on Aug. 23, Protesters cover their right eye in reference to a woman who received a serious injury to her face, which was allegedly caused by police shooting a rubber bullet at her head. One woman (R) holds a sign urging the U.S. government to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ.) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). Credit: Laurel Chor/IPS

By Laurel Chor
HONG KONG, Aug 24 2019 (IPS)

As protests in Hong Kong continue over the weekend, thousands of people joined hands to form a human chain that stretched across the city on Friday. It was yet another demonstration – this one entirely peaceful – in a series of protests that have rocked the former British colony for the past 12 weeks. 

The “Hong Kong Way” protest was inspired by the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way, a 600-km human chain formed across Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, which at the time were a part of the Soviet Union. Two million people stood hand-in-hand that day to protest Soviet rule.

Yesterday on Aug. 23, organisers estimated that 135,000 people participated in the Hong Kong version, which stretched 60 kilometres across both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Hundreds even made their way up the iconic Lion Rock Mountain, lighting up the peak with cell phone lights. 

The human chain marked a shift in tone in the protests, which were often violent. Today, on Aug. 24 protestors reportedly hurled objects and gasoline bombs at police, with police firing tear gas in response.

On Saturday, Aug. 24 protestors reportedly hurled objects and gasoline bombs at police, with police firing tear gas in response.Courtesy: Studio Incendo

The Hong Kong protests were sparked by a proposed extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to China and possibly face an unjust trial system, making people fearful that Beijing would exploit the law for political reasons. The demonstrations have been further fuelled by anger towards the police for its excessive use of force and protesters’ key demands now include complete withdrawal of the proposed extradition bill, as well as genuine universal suffrage. 

Earlier this month, two mainland Chinese men were held and beaten at the Hong Kong airport, where protests had disrupted flights for two days in a row. After the incidents, Beijing strongly condemned the protesters and compared the attacks to “terrorism”. On the other hand, organisations including Amnesty International and the United Nations have repeatedly criticised the Hong Kong Police Force for its violent methods to control the protests.

Mindful of public opinion, protesters took a decidedly more peaceful direction after those incidents. First, they apologised for the airport protests. Then, a peaceful march was organised last weekend, with an estimated 1.7 million attending, echoing two similar marches in June that had attracted one million, then two million a week later – an impressive feat in a city of only 7.4 million residents. 

Organisers of the Hong Kong Way issued a statement highlighting Hong Kong protesters’ solidarity: “We are no longer divided into ‘peaceful’ or ‘frontline’ protesters – we are joined as one in our resolve to fight for our freedom.” 

Protests were scheduled for the weekend and are set to continue for the rest of the month. The Hong Kong government has yet to meet with protesters and has not caved in on any of their demands, leading the city to wonder how its biggest political crisis will ever be resolved. 

The Hong Kong protests were sparked by a proposed extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to China and possibly face an unjust trial system, making people fearful that Beijing would exploit the law for political reasons. This dated photo is from a protest rally last month. Courtesy: Studio Incendo/CC By 2.0

Standing in front of the famous Victoria Harbor on Aug. 23, protesters cover their right eye in reference to a woman who received a serious injury to her face, which was allegedly caused by police shooting a rubber bullet at her head, as they hold their cell phone lights in the other hand. Credit: Laurel Chor/IPS

A protester hugs a stranger standing in Sham Shui Po on Aug. 23 as part of the Hong Kong Way, the participants of which included families with children. Credit: Laurel Chor/IPS

Protesters stand in front of the Hong Kong Space Museum as part of the Hong Kong Way, a 60-kilometre human chain on Aug. 23. Credit: Laurel Chor/IPS

Protesters – often not knowing those standing next to them – link up to form the Hong Kong Way in Sham Shui Po on Aug. 23, while chanting slogans encouraging Hong Kong protesters and demanding the “liberation” of the city. Credit: Laurel Chor/IPS

Protesters forming the Hong Kong Way hold up their cell phone lights while standing on a busy road in Sham Shui Po, where double decker buses often passed through, on Aug. 23. Credit: Laurel Chor/IPS

Dissatisfied with the Philippines’ response to the 2010 Manila hostage crisis, which led to the death of eight Hong Kong residents and injuries to seven others, authorities took the unprecedented decision late January to impose travel restrictions against Filipino officials. The restrictions took effect Feb. 5.

Visa-free travel privileges for Philippine diplomats were revoked, affecting up to 800 Filipino officials, who visit or pass through Hong Kong each year.

The punitive measures came after three years of fruitless negotiations between officials from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Manila. Under rising domestic pressure, Hong Kong authorities have demanded that Philippine President Benigno Aquino III formally apologise for the incident and provide proper compensation for all the victims and their families before any rehabilitation of bilateral relations takes place.

On Aug. 23, 2010, Rolando Mendoza, former senior inspector of the Manila Police District (MPD), hijacked a tourist bus carrying 21 Hong Kong nationals. In exchange for releasing the hostages, he demanded a judicial review of his dismissal from office on allegations of extortion. After long hours of tense negotiations, in which hopes of a peaceful resolution of the crisis gradually arose, Manila city officials opted for a rescue operation, which led to deaths and injuries among the hostages.

Aquino has refused to apologise on behalf of the Philippine state, arguing that the tragic incident (August 2010) was the result of the criminal actions of a disaffected Filipino citizen. Mendoza reportedly shot the hostages and later himself during the rescue operation.

The Philippines contends that it has provided compensation to the victims and already apologised for the incident, and there were hopes that Manila city authorities, who oversaw the botched rescue operation during the hostage crisis, would have separately assuaged Hong Kong at the local government level.

The Hong Kong decision was relayed through the Chinese embassy in Manila, with Beijing expressing its support for the semi-autonomous city-state on the issue. Many in the Philippines tend to see the latest sanctions as part of a larger Chinese strategy to isolate the country amid rising territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Bilateral Philippine-China relations have hit a new low, further undermining the prospects of a diplomatic resolution of bilateral disputes. And there are growing worries over the fate of up to 160,000 Filipino overseas workers, who are mostly domestic workers living in precarious conditions in Hong Kong.

“[The victims and their families] are seeking an apology from the Philippine government for the failure and lapses of their officials in handling the rescue operation,” Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-yin stated, placing the blame on the Philippine state rather than the hostage-taker.

Hong Kong authorities have warned of more sanctions in the absence of a satisfactory response from the Philippines, framing their latest decision as a calibrated warning to avoid a total breakdown in bilateral relations. “I urge the Philippine government to demonstrate sincerity and resolve in bringing the discussion to a satisfactory conclusion so that we do not have to implement further sanctions,” Leung said.

There is a common perception in the Philippines that Hong Kong would not have made such an unprecedented decision – imposing sanctions on a foreign country – without prior approval from Beijing authorities. As a result, some Filipinos see Hong Kong’s policies as a proxy for Chinese approach to the Philippines.

“The [hostage crisis incident] affects the feelings of the Chinese, including Hong Kong compatriots,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying declared, reflecting the deep resonance of the issue among the broader Chinese population.

Beijing also went so far as to prod the Philippines into fulfilling Hong Kong’s demands, with Hua stating: “We urge the Philippine side to face squarely the concerns of the victims and their families, show sincerity and solve the relevant issues at an early date.”

Alarmed by the possibility of more disruptive sanctions, which could seriously undermine trade relations, affect job opportunities for Filipinos in Hong Kong, and reduce tourist exchanges between both countries, the Philippine government opted for appeasement instead of retaliatory sanctions.

“We are stepping away from the path instead of going for common ground,” the Philippines’ presidential communications secretary Herminio Coloma lamented, characterising Hong Kong’s decision as a provocative action that could seriously undermine ongoing negotiations over the issue. Shortly before the sanctions took effect, Coloma defended the Philippine government, emphasising how the Aquino administration is “[still] seeking a solution and that is where we continue to be until the present time.”

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which was directly affected by Hong Kong’s latest measure, called into question the validity of the sanctions, and argued that a “closure” had already been achieved on the matter.

“A substantive closure on the Quirino Grandstand incident had already been arrived at three years ago with the previous Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region) government and the victims as well as their families,” DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez stated.

In November 2013, the Philippines sent a high-level delegation to Hong Kong, delivering 2.28 million Philippine pesos (51,000 dollars) to one of the victims of the hostage crisis. It was the first payout by the Aquino administration to the victims.

“To bring the issue to its final conclusion, the Philippines remains committed to manifest compassion to the victims and their relatives, and is ready to turn over the additional tokens of solidarity from the Filipino people,” Hernandez declared.

Other Filipino officials expressed outrage at Hong Kong’s decision, while some legislators called for a retaliatory response. For some Filipinos, it was particularly insulting for a SAR like Hong Kong to impose sanctions on the Philippines, which is a sovereign nation-state. But the Aquino administration ultimately decided to tone down tensions and avoid a downward spiral of retaliatory actions, stating that arriving at a common understanding and helping the affected families was their priority.

Former president and current mayor of Manila Joseph Estrada also tried to resolve bilateral disputes by offering to intercede on behalf of the Philippine government and offer an official apology. Also concerned about the welfare of Filipino workers in Hong Kong, Philippine Vice-President Jejomar Binay pleaded with Hong Kong officials to not introduce any further measure that could jeopardise the livelihood and wellbeing of the large Filipino community in the Chinese city-state.

Overall, it seems that the Philippine government has prioritised the prevention of more disruptive sanctions, but it is far from clear whether it is willing to go the extra mile to appease Hong Kong officials. In the meantime, the broader Philippine-China relationship hangs in the balance, and there are little signs of a thaw in bilateral ties anytime soon.