HONG KONG — Thousands of protesters rallied in central Hong Kong, seizing two main highways on Wednesday, in a defiant show of strength against government plans to allow extraditions to China. More than 100 Hong Kong businesses said they would close Wednesday in a sign of solidarity with the protesters, and the city’s major student unions announced they would boycott classes to attend the rallies. Lawmakers are to debate the bill on Wednesday morning in the city’s legislature, which is dominated by Beijing loyalists. The proposed law would allow extraditions to any jurisdiction with which Hong Kong does not already have a treaty — including mainland China. Beijing hit back on Tuesday, with a foreign ministry official saying China “resolutely opposes interference in Hong Kong affairs.” /mufRead NextLATEST STORIESMOST READ

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 12, 2019 01:41 UTC