Hong Kong democracy protesters aim for massive turnout at rare sanctioned march

What were they supposed to do? They had an agreement - it expired.

Pfffft . . . The answer is painfully obvious: Follow Donny’s style and break the agreement.

Lam should look at Andrew Scheer. When his party lost big, he stepped down.

Agreed. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone were reasonable?

Lam should look at Andrew Scheer. When his party lost big, he stepped down.

On the subject of violence, I hope that it can be avoided. Non-violent civil disobedience, in the manner of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, seems preferable.

I confess to being surprised that Xi has not yet succumbed to what must be the temptation to storm Hong Kong with overwhelming force, although that is certainly not the outcome that I would like to see. It is only natural for people to want not only economic viability, but the feeling of freedom and the inherent pride that comes from self rule. It is very encouraging that Xi has so far allowed Hong Kong a semblance of freedom. If there is ever to be a peaceful resolution to the Taipei - Peking standoff, it would help immensely if a peaceful resolution to the current Hong Kong question can be achieved. Conversely, a demonstration of brute force by Xi will likely only strengthen Taiwan's resolve to stay independent.

the only thing that 'begat' anything was Britain's desertion of Hong Kong.

What were they supposed to do? They had an agreement - it expired.

The CPP murdered protestors with tanks at Tienanmen square, and have murders prisoners for their organs. 

They still do murder people for organs.

When Hong Kong was reverted to Chinese control, I (and most people familiar with the situation) was optimistic about China's direction. Though they had a terrible human rights record, it was gradually getting better, and life in general was improving. The country had the vibrant feeling of a place on the verge of greatness, and all the energy that comes with that.

Since then, all that has changed. The country is headed in the worst possible direction, and we will eventually see the worst possible results. People in Hong Kong are well aware of this. It's one thing to slap abusive and authoritarian government chains on people who are already somewhat used to being abusively governed. But how well will that go down in a place where people are used to freedom?

Britain's desertion of Hong Kong.

Really?

Britain didn't desert HK. Their 99 year lease was up. They followed an agreement and a planned handover which began in 1984. China would never have extended the lease. The mainland was forced into the lease by the Brits after a few wars over tea and opium that would have outraged people today.

China signed a 99 year lease in Sri Lanka a few years ago for a port.

ThePBotToday  07:36 am JST

I'm not sure where you got that silly idea.

Violence begets violence. It doesn't matter who starts it, it just doesn't end.

No it does end, when one of the two parties believes that it has attained it goals and the other ceases any further resistance. Not advocating violence, just pointing out how it has always been in human history.

some (not all) of the violence has come from agent provocateur posing as protestors ... example https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/c5uhna/a_police_provocateur_got_exposed_by_hong_kong/

I hope it shifts away from violence and back to the millions of peaceful but angry demonstrators. Lam needs to go. She and her bunch are very much hated in her own home. (Think Donald Trump)

@Strangerland, the only thing that 'begat' anything was Britain's desertion of Hong Kong.

Carrie Lam needs to resign. She doesn't have the voter's approval. That is clear.

Hong Kongers are fighting not just for the next 5 yrs, but for the next 500 yrs and for all the generations who follow them. Now is the time. They cannot stop until full democracy has been achieved.

They are just as stubborn as Beijing leaders appointed by committees, of committees, of committees. Look up how leaders are selected in China. That was how Lam was selected. Unacceptable to HK citizens.

 I agree. 

So they're the same then. Gotcha.

I agree. The CPP murdered protestors with tanks at Tienanmen square, and have murders prisoners for their organs. This violence has begat a complete and absolute fear of being subjected to future CPP violence. This has begat the protests in HK. The CPP violence has begat violence in the protestors who are literally fighting for themselves and all their descendants.

The violence of the CCP has begat the violence of the protestors. If the CCP respected human rights, the protestors wouldn’t have any need to protest.

I'm not sure where you got that silly idea.

Violence begets violence. It doesn't matter who starts it, it just doesn't end.

Any violence by the protesters negates their message.

Not to me.

I'm not sure where you got that silly idea.

You don't think that just because you don't agree with it, no one does, do you?

Any violence by the protesters negates their message.