Protests both in support and against the Hong Kong demonstrations took to Vancouver’s streets this weekend.
The protest started Saturday at the Broadway-City Hall SkyTrain Station before moving to Granville and Robson Street, and continued again Sunday at the Chinese Consulate.
According to the Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society, more than 500 people turned out in support of Hong Kong.
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The demonstrations began last spring after the Hong Kong government introduced a bill that would allow Hong Kong citizens to be sent to China if they are arrested. The protests escalated in June and have continued.
Vancouver’s protests mirror those in Hong Kong where protesters are demanding the resignation of Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, democratic elections and an independent investigation into police use of force.
A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to Beijing in 1997 under the framework of “one country, two systems,” which promised residents certain democratic rights not afforded to people in mainland China. But some Hong Kongers have accused the Communist Party-ruled central government of eroding their freedoms in recent years.
🚨🇨🇦 YESTERDAY: #Vancouver rally was met with counter-protest by Chinese nationalists who sang the Chinese anthem to drown out the voices of #HKers.#StandWithHongKong #HongKong #HongKongProtests #yvr #CanSaveHK #Vancity #Canada #BritishColumbia pic.twitter.com/DSL8IIO71Q
— Global Solidarity HK (@GlobalSolidHK) August 18, 2019
#HongKongProtests Yesterday at the Hong Kong protesters rallies in Vancouver, Canada. An 88-year-old man, long-time Hong Kong immigrants said, he supports “One Country, One China! Hong Kong is part of China!”@VancouverPD@CBCVancouver@CTVVancouver@DailyHiveVan
#Vancouver pic.twitter.com/WUiHKD8k9Q— The Wu Show (@kacyproductions) August 18, 2019
Wow. We just got informed that the “second shift (of nationalists) is coming”
I was just wondering why they cleared out#freehongkong #cansavehk #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/s2PzTzVi1u
— Kevin Huang｜黃儀軒 (@yskevinhuang) August 18, 2019
– with files from The Canadian Press
