On 5 August, Hong Kong protesters partially shut down the city. Protestors disrupted service on eight subway and rail lines and airlines canceled more than 200 departing and 100 arriving flights.
In a press conference on Monday morning, Chief Executive Lam said the protests “challenge ‘one country, two systems’ and threaten Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability”.

“The government will be resolute in maintaining law and order of Hong Kong and restoring confidence.”

This was a weekend of non-stop protests. After work on Friday, 2 August, government civil servants joined the protests, calling for investigations of the regulations restricting political activity by civil servants.
On Saturday and Sunday, protestors blocked subway tunnels and roadways and disrupted traffic in the city
On the night of the 4th, the government warned, that the demonstrations “have already gone far beyond the limits of peaceful and rational protests for which the government and general public will not condone under any circumstances.” 
The early reports indicate the general strike is a partial success. The protestors continue to escalate the amount of damage and disruption their demonstrations cause. They have now exceeded the patience of the Chinese government and stand to lose everything. 
There have been at least three separate sets of reports about Chinese preparations for a military/paramilitary intervention in Hong Kong. Two about preparations by forces outside Hong Kong and one set about the Hong Kong garrison. China is prepared to use military force in Hong Kong. 
The trigger would be a request by the Lam administration. What would trigger Lam to make that request is less clear. Identification of the protests as a challenge to Chinese sovereignty would seem to be enough.
If the People’s Liberation Army and paramilitary units intervene, they will impose martial law and suspend most of the freedoms the Hong Kongers now enjoy. China will sacrifice Hong Kong before it makes concessions to street protestors.

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7 COMMENTS

  1. Just caught up on the HK thing. Does seem to be escalating.

    The French are still at it too, not that you'd know it from the "press."

  2. I've been wondering how long it would take. The Chinese don't seem to be the type to take this forever.

  3. "What would trigger Lam to make that request is less clear."

    I'm thinking it would be a phone call from the PRC leadership, saying 'make the request or have a tragic accident so the next guy can.".

    -Kle.

  4. How important is Hong Kong to the overall Chinese economy? Some speculation by pundits their economy is fragile and could rapidly collapse. Cracking down on protesters would hurt the Hong Kong economy causing a ripple effect China wide.

  5. That is part of the problem. Under no circumstances can the Central Committee look weak or vulnerable. The protests may be attacked sooner and suppressed more ruthlessly precisely because other aspects of the system are unstable. This is something the leadership knows how to do and has confidence they can "Git'er Done".

  6. And the crux is, they take down Hong Kong, they face a significant loss of income and trade… Interesting… But I think the PRC is going to step in, and that will get ugly.

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