Shops shut, traffic blocked as protests again roil Hong Kong

Reuters ^ | August 2, 2019 | James Pomfret, Donny Kwok

[CondoleezzaProtege]

- Hong Kong police fired tear gas on Saturday night in confrontations with black-clad activists in the city’s Kowloon area, as the Chinese-controlled territory was again rocked by anti-government protests.

In the Nathan Road area, normally packed with shoppers on a Saturday, shutters were down on most street-facing shops, including 7-11 convenience stores, jewelry chain Chow Tai Fook and watch brands Rolex and Tudor.

The main entrance to the landmark Peninsula Hotel was closed.

Many of Saturday’s demonstrators wore yellow or white hard hats, and the crowds chanted “age of revolution!” and “Hong Kongers, add oil!” - a popular exhortation in Cantonese.

Protests against a proposed bill allowing people to be extradited to stand trial in mainland China have grown increasingly violent since June, with police accused of excessive force and failing to protect protesters from suspected gang attacks..

The protests against it have become the most serious political crisis in Hong Kong since it returned to China 22 years ago after being governed by Britain.

Organizers said 120,000 people joined the rally. Police said 42,000 people had joined the march at its peak.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

They also pose the greatest popular challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he took office in 2012 and come as Xi grapples with an escalating trade war with the United States and a slowing economy in a politically sensitive year. On Oct. 1, China will mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic.

(CBS)

[notdownwidems]

“add oil”? WTH does that mean?

[oincobx]

Shouldn’t that headline read riots instead of protests?

[Petrosius]

Jiāyóu, "add oil," is a common Chinese cheer. It mean "add fuel" or "add effort." Colloquial translations might be "good luck," "go, team, go," "keep it up," "keep fighting," etc.

[Dilbert San Diego]

How long will the communist leaders in Beijing tolerate this?

As I recall, the Tiananmen Square protests went on for weeks, before the military crushed the protests. I also recall Chinese leaders denied they had sent in the military, and then also tried to downplay the number of deaths resulting from their actions.

Will President Xi and his fellow communists let these protests continue and grow? Time will tell, but I fear a crackdown will happen at some point.

[Zhang Fei]

[“add oil”? WTH does that mean?]

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I’m guessing it’s either the equivalent of pedal to the metal or perhaps a reference to the distant past when candidates for the imperial examinations needed to add oil to their lamps (assuming they used oil lamps) if they studied late into the night. The gist of which is probably stay the course or don’t let the bastards get you down - until your demands are met.

[Truthoverpower]

The Chinese cannot pull another Tiananmen in the age of iPhones

And they know it

[353FMG]

Don’t bet on it. You’re dealing with communists to whom human life is worth zilch.

[Yulee]

Shouldn’t that headline read riots instead of protests?
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I haven’t heard of any property destruction yet, or attacks on people by those protesting. This is not BLM or Antifa, who break windows, destroy property, and attack anyone that disagrees with them.

[oincobx]

President Donald Trump labeled recent protests in Hong Kong as “riots.