Protesters March To Consulates Ahead Of G20 Summit

Hundreds of extradition bill protesters on Wednesday marched to 19 consulates as part of a campaign to put international pressure on the Hong Kong government ahead of the G20 summit in Osaka.

An organiser of the action, surnamed Lau, told RTHK's Richard Pyne that the marchers wanted to convey their concerns about the situation in Hong Kong to the countries who will be at the G20 meeting, which will be attended by President Xi Jinping.

"We hope the 19 governments will express their concern about Hong Kong's autonomy ... and give pressure to President Xi Jinping," he said.

Assistant foreign minister Zhang Jun has already said that Beijing will not allow “the Hong Kong issue” to be discussed in Osaka and that foreign countries shouldn’t intervene in China’s internal affairs.

But some of the marchers were still hopeful the issue will come up when the world leaders meet.

“We, the Hong Kong people, have already done our best in the last two protests," she said referring to the two mass rallies this month in which millions participated. "This is our last chance to ask for help globally,” said the protester, who gave her name as Yoana.

Another protester, Kathy, said asking for international help isn’t a bad thing. “This is about human rights, about democracy,” she said.

Organisers said around 1,500 people took part in the latest protest action over the government's plans to allow extraditions to the mainland.

There were a heavy police presence at the intersection of Lower Albert Road, which leads to Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s residence, and Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng’s office.

After delivering letters to the US and British consulates and the EU office, the march, which had swelled by another few hundred people along the way, split into three different groups. One group looped back around to Exchange Square to pay a visit to the Canadian and Japanese consulates.

Others made their way to the consulates of Argentina, South Korea, Germany, France and India.

The protesters said only India and Indonesia had refused to accept their letters, so they left them at the consulates' doors and also emailed staff. The Russian officials did not receive the letter but arranged a building official to take the letter.

The protesters, who had set off from the Chater Garden at about 9.30am arrived back at their starting point by 2pm, with the last letter being delivered to the South Korean officials. The rally members then announced an end to their action and dispersed soon after.

The Civil Human Rights Front is to hold a “G20 Free Hong Kong” assembly in Edinburgh Place on Wednesday evening.

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