"Standing with Hong Kong" Taiwanese Hold 1st Anniversary Rally Against Hong Kong Extradition Law

More than 10 Civic Groups Including Taiwan Human Rights Promotion Association
Hold 'Unfinished Struggle, Taiwan and Hong Kong Together' Event on 14th
7,000 Participants... Slogans and Street March

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] On June 9, 2019, one year ago, over 1.03 million Hong Kong citizens took to the streets to protest the Hong Kong government's 'Fugitive Offenders Ordinance' (extradition bill), which would allow extradition to mainland China. Citizens gathered in the city center holding signs such as 'Hong Kong Independence' and 'Hong Kong Freedom' as they marched.

Over 7,000 Taiwanese gathered in one place to show support for the one-year anniversary of Hong Kong's 'Fugitive Offenders Ordinance' (extradition bill) protests. This was to empower the Hong Kong citizens' protests with the meaning of jointly resisting the Chinese government.

According to local Taiwanese media on the 14th (Korean time), about 10 civic groups including the Taiwan Association for Human Rights Promotion, which supports the Hong Kong protests, announced that over 7,000 people attended the event titled 'Unfinished Struggle, Taiwan and Hong Kong Together' held the previous day at Liberty Square in northern Taipei. Attendees included Lin Peifan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party, Lam Wing-kee, owner of Causeway Bay Bookstore who relocated to Taiwan, poet Liao Weitang, and lyricist Lin Xiga.

The organizers shouted slogans together with participants such as "Resist China's imperialism" and "Face the (Hong Kong) National Security Law." They also urged the Tsai Ing-wen government, led by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, to promptly fulfill its promises regarding support measures for Hong Kong people.

Deputy Secretary-General Lin Peifan stated, "The survival of Taiwan's democracy and Hong Kong are in a close relationship like lips and teeth (순치, sunchi)," and added, "The Tsai government will soon explain externally the promised support measures for Hong Kong." Lam Wing-kee also told Hong Kong people, "We must prepare for the reconstruction of Hong Kong."

In particular, Joshua Wong of the Hong Kong opposition party Demosisto said in a pre-recorded video, "We always say 'Today's Hong Kong is tomorrow's Taiwan,'" and added, "I hope that in the future, 'Today's Taiwan will be tomorrow's Hong Kong,' so that Hong Kong people can realize democracy and have the opportunity to choose their government like Taiwanese people."

Earlier on the 12th, citizens in Ximending, known as 'Taiwan's Myeongdong,' and southern Tainan wore yellow safety helmets to show support for Hong Kong, symbolizing the inheritance of the spirit of the Hong Kong protests. They held placards reading "(Hong Kong) Reject the National Security Law" and "Protect Hong Kong, Defend Taiwan," and sang the Hong Kong protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.