Millions have marched over this month at Hong Kong to oppose a proposed law that would have allowed extraditions to the Chinese mainland. Student groups have been mobilising support for another major demonstration as the Thursday deadline for the pro-Beijing government to respond to demands of protesters approaches closer
The huge protest movement has morphed into a larger rebuke of Hong Kong's administration.
Carrie Lam, the chief executive who came under fire over the use of force to disperse protestors apologised and suspended the bill. But that has failed to quell the opposition, with protesters demanding that Lam step down and completely withdraw the legislation. Lam hadn't offered to step down as the city's leader. A vote of non-confidence against Lam was to be introduced, but, it wasn't likely to be passed as the governing body was dominated by her camp
According to So Tsun Fung, president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), a network of students at universities and higher education institutions is preparing to mobilise, based on a 5:00 pm (0900 GMT) Thursday deadline, circulating online for several demands to be met.
Protesters demand that those detained during the sporadic clashes be released in addition to withdrawal of the the extradition law, Lam's ouster and an investigation into allegations of police brutality.
"The hope is to apply pressure before civil servants go to work if we have a certain amount of people," he So Tsun Fung said. Calls from the protestors have been defied by Lam.
"We will stand by any time, anywhere to make sure that there won't be any repeat of police brutality," opposition lawmaker Claudia Mo said, referring to the violence last week.
Opponents of the extradition bill said they fear the proposal will ensnare the people of Hong Kong in mainland China's opaque and politicised justice system giving Beijing a tool to target its critics based in the semi-autonomous territory.
