Director of Hong Kong Watch answers YOUR questions

04 October 2019

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Johnny Patterson is the Director of Hong Kong Watch, a charity which advocates for the human rights of people in Hong Kong.

Do you believe that China and Hong Kong can come to an agreement that is beneficial to everyone without serious violence being used?

honorable_conclusion, Weston Favell Academy

This is a very important question honorable_conclusion, I believe that there is the possibility of an outcome that helps everyone if the Chinese and Hong Kong government are willing to compromise with the protestors. Unfortunately recent events suggest that they do not want to compromise, and if they choose not to do this, then it seems likely to me that violence will increase. 

Is there a chance Hong Kong can gain their independence from China?

cheerful_photograph, The Sherwood School

Thank you for this question cheerful_photograph, I personally do not think that there is a realistic chance the Hong Kong could have independence from China. But a vital thing to understand about the protests is that Hong Kong's people are not asking for their independence, they are asking for democracy. I think this is a realistic aim, but that it will require China to compromise and see that Hong Kong's future will be prosperous and happiest if people have the right to vote for their leader

Do you think the UK should intervene?

affable_antelope, Lyons Hall Primary School

This is a key question affable_antelope. The United Kingdom has a long connection to the people of Hong Kong, as a result of the fact that the city was a part of the British Empire. When the UK did the handover of Hong Kong to China, it was agreed that the people of Hong Kong's human rights would be protected. If the UK government think this agreement has been broken, then I think they have an obligation to take action. The first thing they should do is to explain to Chinese diplomats (who are the people representing China) why they think their actions have broken the agreement that was signed between Britain and China. 

When the UK did the handover of Hong Kong to China, it was agreed that the people of Hong Kong's human rights would be protected. If the UK government think this agreement has been broken, then I think they have an obligation to take action.

Johnny Patterson

What is Hong Kong doing to protect their human rights?

loyal_shark, Brompton Westbrook Primary School

There are two ways to answer your question loyal_shark. The bulk of Hong Kong's people have been protecting their rights by protesting. The protests have been about protecting human rights. By contrast, the Hong Kong government have not done a very good job at protecting human rights, and must try harder to protect their citizens from police brutality and other human rights abuses. 

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