Director of Hong Kong Watch answers YOUR questions

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.
Comments (24)
05 Oct 2019
Thank you for your informative answer
05 Oct 2019
Thank you for your informative answer
06 Oct 2019
I believe that they can come into a agreement if they tried but right now no. :(
07 Oct 2019
I believe that Hon Long has a right and a wrong .T
The right is freedom and they should have a democracy like us.
the wrong is using violence against China.I
i agree
Well we all know your right but their only focusing on what they want at the moment not using their common sense
08 Oct 2019
we all need to agree at some point but at the moment no!
08 Oct 2019
agreed we need to make a deal with china not to take control😷🤒🤮🤢🤕no more tear gas and rubber bullets
08 Oct 2019
why did Hong Kong start protesting
08 Oct 2019
when is this all gonna stop?
08 Oct 2019
when is it all going to end!
loyal_turtle that is technically the same as my one but worded a little bit differently!
08 Oct 2019
When China give in.
Well interesting beetle even if they do give in they will always find a way across it and right now no one is even attacking China because they are really really strong.
08 Oct 2019
why did the UK hand Hong Kong over to China?
The U.K. handed Hong Kong over to China because the U.K. ended administration for the colony of Hong Kong, therefore leaving China to rule over Hong Kong. The two places then made up the one country two systems. I found this information on Wikipedia.
why did you use Wikipedia
I used Wiki because it is a reliable source of information.
09 Oct 2019
:( I do not know🙁
10 Oct 2019
why did hong kong not have their human right at first ?
10 Oct 2019
positive_juniper I think it was because China are China and they are being unfair and taking their human rights away.
10 Oct 2019
What has happened to the door of democracy🙀
11 Oct 2019
Do you think the one country two systems cooperation would work in any circumstances?
18 Oct 2019
How could Hong Kong and China make a compromise to create peace and everyone to stay happy?
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