The protests began in early June over a now-shelved extradition bill that activists say was an example of how those promises have been eroding.

Anti-extradition bill protesters hold hands to form a human chain during a rally to call for political reforms at Mongkok, in Hong Kong, China, August 23, 2019.

The protests, triggered by a now-suspended bill that would have allowed extraditions to China, have plunged the former British colony into its worst crisis since its return to China in 1997 and pose a major challenge for Beijing.

Students are shown here attending a school boycott rally in opposition to a controversial extradition bill, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Sept. 2, 2019.

A man carries an umbrella reading "Hold Up Freedom; Oppose Evil Bill" as protesters take part in the anti-extradition bill protests march in Hong Kong, on Aug. 4, 2019.

Last year, a mass protest movement ignited in Hong Kong over a proposed extradition bill that could transfer individuals to mainland China for trial.

The protests, which started over a now-suspended extradition bill and evolved into demands for greater democracy, have rocked Hong Kong for three months and plunged the city into its biggest political crisis since the handover.

Protests in the former British colony erupted in early June over a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China for trial.

The bill would have allowed any country, including mainland China, to seek extradition of criminal suspects.

Memos and posters over anti-extradition bill are seen on "Lennon Walls" at Tai Po in Hong Kong, China on Aug. 9, 2019.

Mass protests have entered their 11th consecutive week, as Hongkongers’ initial demand that the city government fully withdraw an extradition bill has ballooned into five demands, including universal suffrage in the city’s elections, as well as an independent

(Kin Cheung/AP) Hong Kong’s protests began over an extradition bill that would have allowed suspects to be sent to China to face trial.

The protests in Hong Kong were sparked by an extradition bill that would have allowed people in Hong Kong to be sent to the mainland for trial, enabling the Chinese regime to crack down on dissent, in a way that's similar to what it has done to Unirule

Protesters in Hong Kong, who originally opposed a now-withdrawn extradition bill, have since mid-summer called upon the government to accede to five major demands, including the right to general suffrage.

Months of huge and sometimes-violent protests in Hong Kong were triggered by a now-shelved extradition bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited to mainland courts.

(Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images) Tension Between Police and Journalists Hongkongers have started to protest the now-shelved controversial extradition bill since April, which would have allowed mainland China to seek extradition of criminal suspects.

Since June, mass protests have erupted on Hong Kong streets over fear that a now-withdrawn extradition bill would lead the Chinese Communist Party to expand its influence in the city.

Hong Kong police have arrested more than 7,000 people and fired over 16,000 rounds of tear gas since mass protests began in June 2019 over a since-shelved extradition bill that would have allowed the Chinese regime to transfer individuals from Hong Kong

HONG KONG—Thousands of Hong Kong senior citizens, including a popular actress, marched on July 17 in a show of support for youths at the forefront of monthlong protests against a contentious extradition bill in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

Everyone has been very surprised that since the Sino–U.S. trade war started in 2018, the CCP has faced a sharply deteriorating international environment, but the regime still continues to engage in troublemaking—from pushing the Hong Kong extradition

For more than three months, Hong Kong has been rocked by protests initially against an extradition bill that would allow people to be transferred to the mainland for trial, but has long since evolved into wider calls for democracy.

The National Security Law was introduced in 2020 in the name of restoring public order after massive protests against a proposed bill that would have allowed extradition to China.

About 430,000 protesters had staged a peaceful protest earlier in the day against an extradition bill that proposed allowing individuals to be transferred to mainland Chinese courts.

The government last month withdrew the extradition bill, widely slammed as an example of the erosion of Hong Kong’s freedom.

At the time, the government hadn't yet agreed to completely withdraw an extradition bill that would allow the Chinese regime to transfer individuals in Hong Kong for trial in mainland China.

Mass protests over a controversial extradition bill and police-civilian clashes have rocked the city in recent months. “The G-7 nations all want to support a stable and prosperous Hong Kong.

On April 18, Lai was arrested by the Hong Kong police for attending a protest against the extradition bill last year.

The protests mark the 21st consecutive weekend of unrest stemming from opposition to an extradition bill, which was shelved following public pressure.

The protests, triggered earlier this year by a proposed extradition bill that would allow individuals to be sent to mainland China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party, have become more violent in recent weeks.

Last year, mass protests erupted in June to protest against the now fully-scrapped extradition bill. Since then, the movement has evolved into demands for greater democracy in the city, including universal suffrage.