HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT
Bill of goods. The latest wave of demonstrations erupted a little over a week ago in response to a Beijing-backed draft law that would allow residents and visitors in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China. Now that Lam has suspended it, the bill is not expected back on the docket this year. But it is expected to return — an unacceptable outcome to protesters, who say the law will undermine the independence of the semi-autonomous region. Both the U.S. and U.K. have backed the protesters, saying the law goes against the “one country, two systems” deal struck when China took control of Hong Kong from the British 22 years ago.
International outcry. Hong Kong has long enjoyed a special legal status with regard to U.S. policy, including economic freedoms not afforded the rest of China that have led Western businesses to flock there. Now U.S. officials say the protests could jeopardize that special treatment — lawmakers from both parties have introduced legislation that would place it on shakier ground — and intimated last week that sanctions could be on the table depending on how Beijing responds. President Trump, meanwhile, has said he hopes China and the protesters will “work it out.” But Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Trump and Xi will be discussing the matter at the upcoming G-20 summit, though a private meeting between the two has yet to be confirmed.
Violence in the streets. After one of the protests last week saw 94 injured and 11 arrested, Lam reportedly had an emergency meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Thursday … and on Saturday, she unexpectedly backed down on the bill. Some analysts saw that as a bid from Beijing to avoid further escalation and thus more embarrassment, though China reiterated today that it still stands behind Lam.
Who’s that woman? A devout Catholic, Lam became Hong Kong’s first female chief executive in 2017 after telling voters she’d received a calling from God to run the city. She was Beijing’s favored candidate — though not that of Hong Kong’s population, who were skeptical. Since then, her approval ratings have sunk to record lows. Often described as a workaholic, Lam earned the nickname “The Nanny” in her previous job as the city’s deputy leader … because she was known for cleaning up other people’s messes. Now that reputation has given way to one of a politician beholden to Beijing. Still, Lam has said that opposition to the controversial extradition bill is just a misunderstanding on the part of the protesters — and that she won’t be resigning anytime soon.
Jailbird. Protesters got a powerful ally today when 22-year-old Joshua Wong, renowned as one of the leaders of 2014’s Umbrella Movement, was released from prison. He immediately joined the protests, calling for Lam’s resignation and linking the current demonstrations to the protests five years ago, saying, “It's lucky that Beijing and Carrie Lam transformed a whole generation of youngsters from normal citizens to dissidents.”
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