tirsdag 18. juni 2019

Hong Kong extradition: How radical youth forced the government's hand

Hong Kong's youth have experienced something of a political awakening in the last two decades - the proportion of registered voters aged 18-35 rose from 58% in 2000, to 70% in 2016. And it's not surprising, when you consider that Hong Kong's political future is an increasingly pressing issue.

The territory currently enjoys special rights and freedoms due to a handover agreement between the British, who previously colonised Hong Kong, and the Chinese government.
But in 2047, the agreement enshrining Hong Kong's special status expires - and nobody really knows what will happen then. For today's youth, 2047 feels strikingly close - and their protest is driven by this uncertainty, as well as a feeling that the Chinese government is closing in anyway.