because they wanted to extradite a rapist that fled to HK, essentially
I'm sure the PRC gov cherry-picked that case to justify a step in the direction of less autonomy for HK - the law would apply to all.
I think the central conflict here is obvious, but a fair solution is not. It's central authority vs. local autonomy, the one-party state vs. a bourgeois democracy in a privileged city. HK is neither an oppressed colony nor a social democracy that treats its people fairly, it's outward-looking and aligned with US and UK finance - not exactly a sympathetic ideal. If I were a HongKonger, I'd want less central control, if I were a Chinese worker in Guangdong, I'd want unity and equality with Hong Kong, i.e. more central control. Neither Beijing nor Hong Kong governments deserve full endorsements.
On balance, I side with Hong Kong protesters, as the underdog, as victims of police brutality, as those whose rights are being reduced under the status quo. But the Western reaction shouldn't be general Sinophobia/demonization. Western countries treat their people about the same way - see Catalonia, BLM, Gilets Jaunes.
I'm sure the PRC gov cherry-picked that case to justify a step in the direction of less autonomy for HK - the law would apply to all.
I think the central conflict here is obvious, but a fair solution is not. It's central authority vs. local autonomy, the one-party state vs. a bourgeois democracy in a privileged city. HK is neither an oppressed colony nor a social democracy that treats its people fairly, it's outward-looking and aligned with US and UK finance - not exactly a sympathetic ideal. If I were a HongKonger, I'd want less central control, if I were a Chinese worker in Guangdong, I'd want unity and equality with Hong Kong, i.e. more central control. Neither Beijing nor Hong Kong governments deserve full endorsements.
On balance, I side with Hong Kong protesters, as the underdog, as victims of police brutality, as those whose rights are being reduced under the status quo. But the Western reaction shouldn't be general Sinophobia/demonization. Western countries treat their people about the same way - see Catalonia, BLM, Gilets Jaunes.