We will continue our fight no matter how much they prosecute us. Such extensive disruptions are punishing our city, the city we love. And, many of us have helped to build, to the verge of a serious situation. [chanting] stephen demonstrations that started as opposition to carrie lams extradition bill morphed into broader resistance to the government, the police, and political interference from beijing and an erosion of their rights. Violence escalated as lam refused to meet demands. Police retaliated with teargas, upper spray, rubber bullets, and pepper spray, rubber bullets, and batons. Vandalism, and civil disobedience continued even after lam acquiesced and withdrew the bill. Nerves are frayed, positions entrenched, hong kong is a city on edge. I am stephen engle, and welcome to this special, hong kong on edge. It calls itself asias world city, the semi autonomous gateway to china, and a Key International finance and commercial hub, and that is but that is coming under increasing threat multiple fronts. You have the political turmoil, the u. S. China trade war, and a widening wealth gap. Hong kong is a worlds most expensive city with the least Affordable Housing market. Many protesters feel left behind financially and politically. That is wreaking havoc on the economy. Fitch has cut credit rankings. Ranking ratings. Small Business Confidence is at a record low and the gdp is heading for a possible recession. I firmly believe that for a lot of these young people, livelihoods, economics, politics, it is important but that is not the primary drive. The primary drive is that they long for a more balanced one country, two systems. Stephen we will try to answer what went wrong and if there is a clear path forward. We have assembled some of the more pivotal figures in hong kongs journey from british colony to Chinese Special administrative region. The iron lady, a nickname that she earned as a last chief secretary under the british and the first one under chinese rule. She was the second most powerful leader in hong kong. What has led to the escalating violence both on the part of the police and the protesters. Stephen the disciplinarian, regina, she was the first female secretary of security. She spearheaded a failed attempt to pass a beijing backed National Security legislation. A lot of violence has been done, we need to be in harmony, but it has also done damage. Stephen martin helped draft the post handover constitution, the basic law that still governs hong kong today. A sharp critic of beijing, he is known as the father of democracy. Martin i have been fighting for democracy for 35 years now. All of these i do things for me. What has beijing done . Ignored us completely. Stephen the career lawmaker who not only served in the British Colonial legislature but the first president of the post handover legislative council. She served for years on the Standing Committee of chinas parliament, the National Peoples congress. Stephen we will not allow our opposition to take us down. Stephen the businessman, he founded the clothing chains before becoming a lawmaker and serving as a deputy to the National Peoples congress. I am in the retail business, i do not think i can hang on for the next few months. Stephen the media tycoon. After founding a clothing line, he went into publishing. He produces the apple daily newspaper. He is often a target of beijings wrath. What we are fighting for is the first battle of the new cold war. Stephen how did this situation get dire, and what are the protesters demands . Can be tiedturmoil to carrie lams refusal to officially draw the extradition bill that she tried to push through the legislature, even as an estimated one Million People and later 2 million marched peacefully through hong kong in opposition. Lawmakers were divided over attempts to change the citys extradition law. Hong kong currently has 20 extradition treaties around the world. The amendments what have allowed expeditions to any jurisdiction extra diction to any jurisdiction on a casebycase basis including two Mainland China, macau, and taiwan, neighboring territories that do not have such agreements. The government pointed to the case of a hong kong man wanted in taiwan for allegedly murdering his girlfriend, but there was no formal avenue to return him to taiwan to face trial. No country or territory wants to become a haven for offenders, especially in serious crises. Stephen the new measure wouldve subjected people here and hong kong to arbitrary detention or unfair trials in china in controlled by the communist party, hong kongs judicial system is based on common law. What is on issue is the lack of trust in the legal and criminal system in the mainland. It is totally untrue that large numbers of hong kong people will be handcuffed or sent to Mainland China. That is part of the fear campaign. Stephen lam in an exclusive interview defended the bill. There are important safeguards in place before a request will be entertained and a fugitive will be returned to that jurisdiction. There is still that perception, and it might be wrong, that hong kongs autonomy is being compromised. Certainly not. We are trying to address the concerns, but it would be wrong to associate this with a high degree of autonomy. Stephen she has since declined further interview requests. As the debate devolved into violence on the streets and into the legislative chamber itself, carrie lam realized that she was fighting a losing battle. She suspended the bill, but there is an important caveat, she did not officially withdraw it. There are lingering doubts about the governments sincerity, or worried about whether the government will restart the process in a legislative council, so i reiterate, there is no such plan, the bill is dead. Stephen it would not be for another 2. 5 tumultuous months until lam would give in. The government will formally withdraw the bill in order to fully allay public concerns. It is unfortunate. It was not handled properly. She apologized for that, time for us to move on, but moving on does not mean we do not deal with the problem. Stephen the next three demands are tied with clashes with police. Demonstrators want an inquiry into Police Brutality but carrie lam has rejected that saying that police have a complaints counsel. Protesters questioned if it could be impartial, and police fear that they could get punished for carrying out orders stemming from a political impact. Protesters want an amnesty for those arrested so far on charges ranging from Illegal Assembly to assaulting Police Officers and rioting. They also want certain clashes not to be classified as riots, which would carry more severe jail sentences for those convicted. Lam will not give in, insisting hong kong must uphold the rule of law. It is the fifth demand, universal suffrage, which is the most problematic. Protesters want to be directly choose their chief executives and lawmakers without interference from beijing. Many question if it will be realistic that beijing will allow that. Currently half of those legislative streets are elected seats are directly elect the elected and a chief , legislative executive is chosen by a committee largely chosen by beijing. They say the local governments intransigence is why in a virtual suffrage is their main goal. Could we have avoided all of this mayhem if carrie lam had simply withdrawn the bill back in june . Definitely. When the first Million People went out, if she had withdrawn it, nothing would have happened in the last three months, and i think the whole thing will calm down. In these three months we realized that unless we have assurance of universal suffrage, we will always have constant encroachments on our freedom. [shouting] stephen this is essentially an illegal demonstration as protesters are defying the ban and have taken over the central part of hong kong, and we have been alerted that police fired tear gas in the nextdoor neighborhood and are asking people to get out. Protesters have adopted revolution of our time, but it is not a call for independence from china, to beijing is a redline, but all of it is keeping hong kong on edge. There is no challenge to sovereignty and one country, two systems. On the contrary, it is because that everybody wants to see two systems remaining intact. You can pick up a container yourself or deliver it to the store. Own stuffckage your or we can refer moving help. You can do it your way, or store it at a local facility for easy access. We can ship it across the country or even around the world. Whether you need to move or need storage, next month, next week or anytime in the next year, order your containers and get one month rent free, guaranteed. A it is time to give ubox call because we do it all. To put a a container bunch of stuff in storage and got my garage back. With my container it gets delivered, i pack it at my pace and that it is off to the Storage Facility it goes. And, they keep it indoors where it stays secure. If i need access i let them know when i am coming and my container is waiting. It is a whole lot smarter. Need a moving and Storage Solution . Downsizing, wee needed to move and store stuff, so the containers were perfect for us. We have a lot of moving parts at a time, so we ordered containers, three of them. It is absolutely the perfect solution. The system let people move into bite sized pieces like we needed it. Best of all, moving help that we found on uhaul. Com are loading it all and into the correct container, and then they can go off in different directions, taking something complicated something simple and easy. Try our self delivery option. I it is move out weekend, so needed somewhere to store my stuff until i come back to school. I compared all of the products systemces, and the ubox came out on top. The license plate allows you to park in any legal parking spot even in the city center. It was super easy to get the containers here. My dad stopped by our neighborhood store, and attach the trailer to his car, and he was back here and in no time. If you want the best box in the business at the best price, then stay tuned for your exclusive tv discount on the amazing system. For a limited time, uhaul is offering one month free went free rent. There is no contract, just monthtomonth convenience, and with your discount coupon you get one month rent free, guaranteed. , i can get 30upon days for free, it is a great deal. I love it. I had to i got to back it up, transported, and unpack it without rent. I love that it is monthtomonth. With my coupon i have 30 days to use a you buck a container rent free, that is awesome. One line to get your free rent discount coupon. We will send it to your inbox or mailbox so you have it when you need it. Thediscount coupon includes use of soft furniture pads with every container you order. That is the safety dollar value and they are 100 free. There is always more. We will send you three popular moving information guides, one on how to perfectly pack taken pack a container, one on how to declutter your garage, and a reliable looking moving help movers. I love the containers because they fit right in my apartment parking space and fit all of my stuff. It is so convenient, they bring it, pack it, and take it away. What is not to love . I can keep all of my stuff in there during renovation and in my driveway. Uhaul is the company you have always trusted, but with the system it they have made it easier. Go online now to get your free discount that includes one month free rent. Remember, if you need to move, ubox. E, or both, call the handover we saw autonomy slowly eroded. The disqualification of six lawmakers and kidnappings, and activists jailed. An alarming rate of Young Children are running away from home to become frontline riot fighters, radicalized to perpetrate criminal acts. Stephen welcome back to hong kong on edge. To better understand how it got so divided we need to look back at the most recent history at the end of one colonial leap in the interception of a new the introduction of a new landlord from the north. Hong kongs return to china was enshrined in 1984 with the signing of the declaration and the formation of an unprecedented one country two systems framework to be covered under basic law. Governed under the basic law. Hong kong would serve as a firewall between the different political and legal economic systems between china and the west, that was for 50 years post handover. Protesters feel that china, by backing measures seen as limiting several liberties is violating its promises for a high level of autonomy until 2047. Michael wears many hats, businessman, lawmaker, and deputy to chinas legislature. Michael i am a unique animal. Stephen a lot of the debate is coming down to this book, the constitution for hong kong, and demand number five has more from has morphed from carrie lam you must resign to we want universal suffrage. Universal suffrage is guaranteed for the chief executive and legislative council, but there are interpretations. From your perspective is china reneging on the pledges made in this book. Michael everything written in this book is not involved in a does not involve a clearcut yes or no. Universal suffrage is laid down as the ultimate. It is a gradual process, and in accordance with the actual situation of the day. If the violence continues, i am sure you agree that no government can hold any sort of elections. It really hurts me that a hong konger should come up with this excuse. Stephen ultimate aim is a long timeline. Is it written purposely vague . During the first 10 years we will be developing, and they promised that by the end of the 10th year we could have it. But now we do not have it. They want to hold them to it. Stephen in 2014 and 2015 there was a rejection of beijings proposal that would have given permanent residents a right to vote, but for a very small, prescreened, vetted beijing, pool of candidates. At the time, it seemed like that would be the best offer on the table. It is the difference between a rotten banana and a rotten orange. The issue is very simple. Do you trust the people and give them of vote, or do you want to control the result of those elections . It was put beautifully at the time which is that beijing does not mind elections so long as they know the result before the first vote is cast. My colleagues vetoed that resolution. Stephen was that the best offer beijing was going to give you . Yes, it is on the table. Forget about this, this is sheer common sense. We are not coming independent, becoming independent we are , still part of china. A lot of people forgot that china is still a communist regime. Highly authoritarian, let us all remember and face that. Those who cannot accept that they have to think about whether they want to live in hong kong. The question is how do we maintain a reasonable balance of two systems within this structure. What they are offering, china is offering, which i totally support, is that they controlled the nomination, and we choose the candidates. People have realized that they have a voice, and that we have assurance. It is very clear, after millions and millions of people went out to demonstrate what we got, nothing but a realization that the fight has to go on. Stephen you did not had does he did not have democracy under the british. We have the institution and we had the institution. We had the rule of law and the free markets, private property rights, and open society, free press, all of these institutions is what democracy could guarantee. If the violence continues, frankly there are more in more people waving the american flag, they will worry. What if universal suffrage returns someone hostile to beijing . If one country two systems fail, who will benefit . Certainly not hong kong or china, but it will benefit the party in taiwan who is looking for taiwan independence. I would not be surprised if someone gives me evidence that that party is involved in instigating all of these riots. Stephen beijing has accused Foreign Forces and taiwan of stirring up the forces. Of stirring up the unrest. The Mainland Affairs council has rejected such claims. I do not think that the community of hong kong could train them or educate them to such an extent, just look at the way that they are so well organized. They must have been trained. Certainly, the rhetoric used by a lot of the ringleaders matches up for the calls for independence. Stephen while the protesters use social Media Movement is social media to mobilize. The movement is widely seen as ring leader led. With noeaderless. Figureheads to target, mainland state media has singled out martin lee, alberto, and jimmy as the new gang of four. It is lexicon for enemies of the state. They are the editor in chief of the global times. In our eyes, they are ruining hong kong. The people call them the gang of four. It is a metaphor that is quite appropriate. This is a threat of evidence that a foreign country is popularizing this demonstration. Stephen youve been called a u. S. Stooge, a traitor. Are you . Well, i am just an owner. I consider it a badge of honor. I have always been honest and sincere about the promises that were given to us, and i want to hold them to it. You promised democracy, and they call me a traitor. It is their fault, not my fault. Stephen the mudslinging is making matters worse, given that there is no solution to the mayhem if there is even a table. Every day i receive threats from that side and this side just saying what they want to show. It is absolutely polarized. I think they need to articulate and appealing vision of our future and the one country, two systems. Does it mean hong kong is involved in china. A lot of people only see the downside of integration, but not the upside. Stephen back in 2003, you were the face of the amendment proposed for article 23, for National Security, they had laws that sparked what half a Million People came up with the streets and end up with the downfall of a politician. You know what is like to be vilified in this town. You were vilified. How back then and now does the Hong Kong Government keep on underestimating or misreading the public discontent . I think they admitted to that that the legislative efforts failed to keep the pulse of the people and she misread the situation. If it had not been for the people marching and together the executive and the legislature, which is a rubb