Hong Kong extradition law: Live updates as protesters march to G20 member consulates on June 26

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YP Team
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Those campaigning against the fugitive bill want embassies to raise the issue with China at this weekend's international forum in Osaka, Japan

YP Team |
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At 9am, a crowd of 100 protesters had gathered at Chater Garden.

In an action theyre calling “Trailwalker” (after the famous long-distance hike of the Maclehose trail), protesters today intend to march from Chater Garden to the US Embassy, where they will ask the US to raise the matter with China. From there they will split into two groups to cover as many of the remaining G20 embassies as possible. 

This comes two days ahead of the global summit being held in Osaka, Japan, where world leaders will meet to discuss world affairs. Beijing has stated that they will not discuss the Hong Kong extradition bill at the summit.

The Civil Human Rights Front will then hold a rally at 8pm tonight at Edinburgh Place in Central. They will invite different professionals to announce a declaration in multiple languages, and talk about the relationship between Hong Kong and the international community. The Front also urged the participants to turn on their phone’s flashlight at 9pm to show the world the glory of humanity.

Follow our live updates below to keep up with whats happening today. 

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 12.11pm]

The Australian Consulate representative gave a lengthy speech when accepting the letter, leading to applause and a positive reaction from the crowd.

Protesters applauded the Australian representative.
Photo: Kai U Cheang

Meanwhile at the Japanese Embassy, the Director of PR received the letter, but did not make a statement.

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 12.06pm]

The representative from the Canadian Embassy didn't give his name to the press, and said he wasn't giving interviews. (He is Derry McDonell, the Consulate's Consul and Programme Manager.) 

Demonstrators chanted "We will not retreat! We will continue! Cheer for Hong Kong!", and an organiser reminded the Canadian representative that two Canadians were arrested by China last year, including one journalist, and that both parties are on the same side.

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 12.01pm]

Not all consulate representatives have commented or taken the requests from the Trailwalker protesters. Young Post reporters say that the Brazilian consulate representative took the letter without a word and left. And the Russian embassy said they would not pick up the letter; instead a representative of Sun Hung Kai, where the embassy is, came to collect it.

Brazil's representative took the letter without saying a word.

 

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 11.20am]

Ahead of the G20 summit in Japan, Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday urged independent investigation into the police use of force against protesters at the June 12 protests, and stated that no more "crowd control equipment" would be exported from Britain to Hong Kong until their concerns had been addressed.

 

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 10.54am]

Organisers have updated the plan via Telegram. They say there are about 1,500 protesters present, and that they will now split into three groups of 500.

The group will split into three to visit a greater number of embassies.

The first group will start in Wan Chai and visit the embassies of Mexico, Brazil and Russia, ending in Causeway Bay.

The second group will visit the embassies of Saudi Arabia, Italy, South Africa and Turkey in Wan Chai.

The final group will hand letters in to the embassies of Canada, Japan, Argentina, Germany, Korea, India and France.

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 10.50am]

A masked protester reads out a statement at the British Consulate asking for support and protection of Hongkongers in the fight against the extradition bill. 

 

 

The group then split up to head to consulates in Central and Wan Chai.

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 10.44am]

British Consulate Deputy Head of Mission, Esther Blythe, appears outside the embassy to receive the requests from protesters.

 

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 10.36am]

Protesters are outside the British Consulate awaiting representatives who are due any minute. They will hand over a copy of the requests as seen at the US Consulate.
Protesters are handing this letter to representatives of the G20 nations.
Photo: Charlotte Fong

 

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 10.20am]

Protesters have handed their letter to the EU offices, and will head next to the British Consulate in Admiralty.

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 10.06am]

Protesters are on their way to the European Union offices having handed over written requests to the US representative. The request asks that leaders back up Hong Kong's position at the G20 summit by supporting, firstly, full withdrawal of the extradition bill, and, second, the establishment of an investigation committee against police brutality.

Photo: Charlotte Fong

 

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 9.55am]

A protester reads an open letter to the US consulate.
Photo: Charlotte Fong

A masked protester reads aloud an open letter to the US Government as the crowd waits for the consulate's official representative to arrive. The letter explains what the fugitive bill is, and how it challenges human rights. It compares China and Hong Kong's differences in terms of human rights and economy.

The letter makes a plea that Hong Kong remain free from China’s juidicial system, and says the city needs help against the "authoritative regime", and that they cannot trust the police. It reiterates that this protest movement is leaderless, and "created by momentum of political will". The letter expresses gratitude for Trump’s attention, and asks him to extend it to other heads of states, particularly President Xi.

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 9.48am]

Protesters arrive at the US Consulate, chanting "Free Hong Kong". One woman is heard shouting "Hong Kong is too small for China... it needs foreign forces to help."
Photo: Bernard Cheung

 

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 9.32am]

More than 200 protesters have arrived at the starting point. The first batch of protesters leaves Chater Garden, heading for the first stop on the walk, the US Embassy on Garden Road. Some people are carrying signs asking US President Donald Trump, who will be meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Osaka, to "Liberate Hong Kong".

The first batch of protesters sets off for the US consulate.
Photo: Charlotte Fong

 

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 9.29am]

Organisers announce the demonstration will begin soon. They will walk first to the US and British consulates, as well as the European Union office. They hope to notify world leaders of the situation in Hong Kong so that diplomatic pressure could be applied to China during the G20 conference to urge them not violate the autonomy of Hong Kong.

Protesters are about to set out from Chater Garden.
Photo: Bernard

 

[UPDATE - Wednesday, 9.15am]

More than 100 protesters have gathers at Chater Garden in Central so far, preparing to walk to the embassies of 19 G20 member nations. Several are wearing “Liberate Hong Kong” T-shirts, and carrying signs rallying support for the city's “One Country, Two Systems” arrangement.

Protesters have brought signs rallying support for the cause.
Photo: Charlotte Fong

A student named Ms Chow, who chose not to reveal her age or full name, says she and her friends plan on staying at the protest until the fugitive bill is withdrawn, but says that there will be “another Carrie Lam” after the current Chief Excective finishes in office.

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