🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 51 (from laksa141)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa051.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/16/asia/hong-kong-protests-evolution-intl-hnk-trnd\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/16/asia/hong-kong-protests-evolution-intl-hnk-trnd\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/16\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-evolution-intl-hnk-trnd","crawl_time":1775403344,"first_indexed_time":1746819626,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,cnn!www,\/2019\/08\/16\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-evolution-intl-hnk-trnd s443","src_root_hash":"2312100192101524051","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Hong Kong protest timeline: The evolution of a movement | CNN","meta_descriptions":["How Hong Kong’s protest movement went from peaceful marches to an airport occupation."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Unable to load video\nPlease try again later.\nError occurred while fetching labs\nVideo Ad Feedback\nChaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport\n02:31\n• Source:\nCNN\nChaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport\n02:31\nHong Kong\nCNN\n — \nIn recent weeks,\nHong Kong\n’s protests have been characterized by\ntear gas\nand angry confrontations. But it wasn’t always like this.\nIn March\n, when residents began protesting against a\ncontroversial bill\nthat would enable China to extradite fugitives from the city, the weekend rallies were relatively small and peaceful.\nHowever, since the start of June, protesters and\npolice\nhave\nclashed\non multiple occasions. In August, a\ncity-wide strike\nbrought parts of the territory to a standstill, and almost 1,000 flights were canceled as protesters\noccupied the airport\nfor two days.\nAd Feedback\nAd Feedback\nHere’s how peaceful demonstrations against an extradition bill have grown into a large,\noccasionally volatile\npro-democracy movement.\nThe\nHong Kong\ngovernment proposed the extradition bill earlier this year to close what it said was a loophole that prevented alleged criminals from being extradited to Hong Kong from other Chinese territories, including Macao and Taiwan.\nLawyers, pro-democracy activists and the\nbusiness community\nquickly denounced the bill, and\nit even provoked scuffles\nbetween Hong Kong lawmakers in the city’s main government building, known as the Legislative Council, during an early debate.\nBut it wasn’t until June that the anti-extradition\nprotests\nkicked off in earnest.\nOn June 9, days before the bill was due to have its second reading, hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong’s central streets.\nThere were families, young people, and elderly, many wearing white to represent justice.\nOrganizers\nestimated the crowd size to be more than 1 million\n, while police said put the number at 240,000.\nSome thought the impressive turn-out – Hong Kong’s biggest demonstration in at least a decade – would force the government to back down. But the following day, the city’s leader\nCarrie Lam\nsaid she was\nsticking by her controversial bill\n.\nFrustrated that the government wasn’t listening, protesters\nbegan gathering\naround the Legislative Council on June 11, the night before the bill was set to have its second reading.\nThe following day, tens of thousands of protesters\njoined the occupation\non the streets outside the governmental complex, hoping to block lawmakers from being able to debate the bill. This time, they wore black – and they were prepared for a face-off.\nThe vast majority were young, and many came with umbrellas, hardhats and face masks.\nThey built barricades, completely closing off roads to traffic. With the authorities caught on the back foot, the Legislative Council meeting was rescheduled.\nTo some, the occupation – which began peacefully – brought back memories of Hong Kong’s\n2014 Umbrella Movement\n, when pro democracy protesters occupied parts of the city for 79 days. “At the end of the Umbrella Movement we said we would be back,” said lawmaker Claudia Mo. “And now, we are back!”\nAs the afternoon wore on, the protest became tense. Police called on protesters to disperse – but more and more continued to arrive.\nStarting from mid-afternoon, police fired rounds of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bags – and at least 81 people were injured.\nThree days later,\nLam backed down and\nsuspended\nthe controversial extradition bill. But if she thought that would stop the protests, she was wrong.\nOn June 16, even more people flooded Hong Kong’s city streets, spilling over the planned route and at least three additional streets on either side. Overhead photos showed a far larger crowd than the previous weekend’s march, or a march in 2003, which had been the city’s largest protest since the former British colony came under Chinese rule in 1997.\nOrganizers estimated that around\n2 million\nhad taken part – just over a quarter of the city’s population of 7.4 million. Police said 338,000 people had followed the original protest route.\nThe protesters demanded that the bill be withdrawn – not just suspended. But they were also angry about other things too: The alleged police brutality on June 12, and the death of a protester in an\napparent suicide\nthe day before.\nMarches\nand occupations\ncontinued\nthroughout June, but the next turning point came on\nJuly 1\n, the anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to China which has always been marked by pro-democracy demonstrations.\nDissent started early in the day. Protesters arrived on the streets in the early hours, and clashed with police as they tried to prevent the annual\nflag\nraising ceremony from taking place.\nThat afternoon, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully through central Hong Kong. But this time, the demonstrators were split. As peaceful protesters marched, hundreds of masked, mainly young demonstrators attempted to break into the Legislative Council building.\nAt night, more radical protesters\nstormed\nthe building and occupied it for hours, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Pro-democracy lawmakers watching the chaos tried to stop the demonstrators, but were shouted down and ignored by protesters, many of whom felt desperate and bleak.\nMany protesters weren’t just thinking about the bill anymore – they were calling for universal suffrage in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.\nAs\nprotests continued\nin July, they began to follow a familiar pattern: A peaceful march in the day, followed by a violent\nface-off with the police as the day wore on.\nAnd the level of violence and weaponry continued to escalate. In July, police seized 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of high explosives, 10 petrol bombs, corrosive liquids, weapons and metal poles at a suspected\nbomb-making factory\n.\nOn July 21, as protesters and police clashed on Hong Kong island, a\nmob of people\nsome 31km (19 miles)\naway were carrying out an unprovoked attack on subway passengers using iron bars and bamboo sticks.\nForty-five people – some of whom were returning home from the protests – were injured in the attack.\nThe police took up to an hour to respond to emergency calls, prompting accusations that there was collusion between the police and the mob – and leading to further distrust of authorities among protesters.\nBy August, protests had\nspread to neighborhoods\naround\nHong Kong\n. The government though showed few signs that they were willing to respond to the protesters’ demands, which included greater democracy and an inquiry into police brutality.\nIt was time to try something different.\nOn August 5, protesters led widespread strikes around the city.\nMore than 2,300 aviation workers joined the strike, leading to the cancellation of 224 flights to and from the airport – the 8th busiest in the world. Major subway lines were suspended, and key roads and highways were blocked. Protests took place in seven districts. In five districts, clashes broke out between police and protesters, prompting police to fire tear gas.\nExperts said the strikes were likely\nthe biggest\nto have rocked the city since at least 1967, when Hong Kong was still a British colony.\nNext, protesters turned their attention to\nHong Kong’s airport\n.\nOn the nights of August 12 and 13, the airport was\nbrought to a standstill\nas demonstrators occupied parts of the building, prompting hundreds of flights to be\ncanceled\nand leaving\npassengers confused and angry\n.\nScenes of chaos erupted among the mainly young demonstrators, who detained and beat several people they suspected of being undercover police.\nIn one confrontation, a\npolice officer\nwas attacked from behind as he held down a\nprotester\n. His baton was then taken and used against him, before the officer drew what appeared to be a pistol and aimed it at the crowd.\nThe scenes\ndemonstrated the depth of anger and frustration\namong the protesters. But it also showed the fragmentation and leaderless nature of the movement, which had no central person to turn to for direction.\nThe next day, some protesters apologized, perhaps an acknowledgment that the violent scenes could damage support for their cause. “We apologize for our behavior but we are just too scared,” one graphic shared on social media read.","attrs_markdown":"Thank You\\!\n\nYour effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.\n\nClose\n\nAd Feedback\n\n[World](https:\/\/cnn.com\/world)\n\n[Africa](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/africa)\n\n[Americas](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/americas)\n\n[Asia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/asia)\n\n[Australia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/australia)\n\n[China](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/china)\n\n[Europe](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/europe)\n\n[India](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/india)\n\n[Middle East](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/middle-east)\n\n[United Kingdom](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/united-kingdom)\n\n[More]()\n\n[Africa](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/africa)   [Americas](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/americas)   [Asia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/asia)   [Australia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/australia)   [China](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/china)   [Europe](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/europe)   [India](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/india)   [Middle East](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/middle-east)   [United Kingdom](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/united-kingdom)\n\n[Watch](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/subscription\/all-access)   [Listen](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)\n\nSubscribe\n\nSign in\n\nMy Account\n\n- [Settings](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/settings)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)\n- [Topics you follow](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/follow?iid=fw_var-nav)\n- [Sign out](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/16\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-evolution-intl-hnk-trnd)\n\nYour CNN account Sign in to your CNN account\n***\nSign in\n\nMy Account\n\n- [Settings](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/settings)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)\n- [Topics you follow](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/follow?iid=fw_var-nav)\n- [Sign out](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/16\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-evolution-intl-hnk-trnd)\n\nYour CNN account Sign in to your CNN account\n***\n[Listen](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)   [Watch](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/subscription\/all-access)\n***\nEdition\n\n[US](https:\/\/us.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n\n[International](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n\n[Arabic](https:\/\/arabic.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n\n[Español](https:\/\/cnnespanol.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n\nEdition\n\n- [US](https:\/\/us.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n- [International](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n- [Arabic](https:\/\/arabic.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n- [Español](https:\/\/cnnespanol.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n***\n[Africa](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/africa)\n\n[Americas](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/americas)\n\n[Asia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/asia)\n\n[Australia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/australia)\n\n[China](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/china)\n\n[Europe](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/europe)\n\n[India](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/india)\n\n[Middle East](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/middle-east)\n\n[United Kingdom](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/united-kingdom)\n***\nFollow CNN\n\nDownload the CNN App\n***\n\n- [US](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us)\n  - 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But it wasn’t always like this.\n\n[In March](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/04\/29\/asia\/hk-protest-extradition-intl\/index.html), when residents began protesting against a [controversial bill](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinions\/hong-kong-protests-government-abuse-judiciary-cheung\/index.html) that would enable China to extradite fugitives from the city, the weekend rallies were relatively small and peaceful.\n\nHowever, since the start of June, protesters and [police](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-police-control-protests-intl\/index.html) have [clashed](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/21\/asia\/hong-kong-protest-july-21-intl-hnk\/index.html) on multiple occasions. In August, a [city-wide strike](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/05\/asia\/hong-kong-strike-august-5-intl-hnk\/index.html) brought parts of the territory to a standstill, and almost 1,000 flights were canceled as protesters [occupied the airport](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/14\/asia\/hong-kong-airport-protests-intl-hnk\/index.html) for two days.\n\nAd Feedback\n\nAd Feedback\n\nHere’s how peaceful demonstrations against an extradition bill have grown into a large, [occasionally volatile](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-airport-violence-intl-hnk\/index.html) pro-democracy movement.\n\n![Protesters occupy the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport during a demonstration on August 12, 2019.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nProtesters occupy the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport during a demonstration on August 12, 2019.\n\nAnthony Kwan\/Getty Images AsiaPac\/Getty Images\n## A sea of white\nThe [Hong Kong](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/travel\/article\/hong-kong-tourism-protests-intl-hnk\/index.html) government proposed the extradition bill earlier this year to close what it said was a loophole that prevented alleged criminals from being extradited to Hong Kong from other Chinese territories, including Macao and Taiwan.\n\nLawyers, pro-democracy activists and the [business community](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/11\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-china-intl-hnk\/index.html) quickly denounced the bill, and [it even provoked scuffles](https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/politics\/article\/3009821\/lawmaker-injured-legislative-council-clash-battle-over) between Hong Kong lawmakers in the city’s main government building, known as the Legislative Council, during an early debate.\n\nBut it wasn’t until June that the anti-extradition [protests](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/10\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-protest-intl-hnk\/index.html) kicked off in earnest.\n\nOn June 9, days before the bill was due to have its second reading, hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong’s central streets.There were families, young people, and elderly, many wearing white to represent justice.\n\nOrganizers [estimated the crowd size to be more than 1 million](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/08\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-bill-protest-intl\/index.html), while police said put the number at 240,000.\n\nSome thought the impressive turn-out – Hong Kong’s biggest demonstration in at least a decade – would force the government to back down. But the following day, the city’s leader [Carrie Lam](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/17\/china\/carrie-lam-hong-kong-profile-intl-hnk\/index.html) said she was [sticking by her controversial bill](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-bill-pause-intl-hnk\/index.html).\n\n![Protesters march on a street during a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal on June 9, 2019.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nProtesters march on a street during a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal on June 9, 2019.\n\nAnthony Kwan\/Getty Images AsiaPac\/Getty Images\n## The first occupation\nFrustrated that the government wasn’t listening, protesters [began gathering](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/asia\/live-news\/hong-kong-protests-june-12-intl-hnk\/h_c3f5870dde77ec2037a4ceba8bb06677) around the Legislative Council on June 11, the night before the bill was set to have its second reading.\n\nThe following day, tens of thousands of protesters [joined the occupation](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/12\/asia\/hk-protests-extradition-intl-hnk\/index.html) on the streets outside the governmental complex, hoping to block lawmakers from being able to debate the bill. This time, they wore black – and they were prepared for a face-off.\n\nThe vast majority were young, and many came with umbrellas, hardhats and face masks.\n\nThey built barricades, completely closing off roads to traffic. With the authorities caught on the back foot, the Legislative Council meeting was rescheduled.\n\nTo some, the occupation – which began peacefully – brought back memories of Hong Kong’s [2014 Umbrella Movement](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/12\/asia\/hong-kong-umbrella-extradition-intl-hnk\/index.html), when pro democracy protesters occupied parts of the city for 79 days. “At the end of the Umbrella Movement we said we would be back,” said lawmaker Claudia Mo. “And now, we are back!”\n\nAs the afternoon wore on, the protest became tense. Police called on protesters to disperse – but more and more continued to arrive.\n\nStarting from mid-afternoon, police fired rounds of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bags – and at least 81 people were injured.\n\n![A protester douses a tear gas canister with water outside the Legislative Council during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong, China. ](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nA protester douses a tear gas canister with water outside the Legislative Council during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong, China.\n\nJustin Chin\/Bloomberg\/Getty Images\n## The 2 million march\nThree days later,Lam backed down and [suspended](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-bill-pause-intl-hnk\/index.html) the controversial extradition bill. But if she thought that would stop the protests, she was wrong.\n\nOn June 16, even more people flooded Hong Kong’s city streets, spilling over the planned route and at least three additional streets on either side. Overhead photos showed a far larger crowd than the previous weekend’s march, or a march in 2003, which had been the city’s largest protest since the former British colony came under Chinese rule in 1997.\n\nOrganizers estimated that around [2 million](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/17\/asia\/hong-kong-china-extradition-hnk-intl\/index.html) had taken part – just over a quarter of the city’s population of 7.4 million. Police said 338,000 people had followed the original protest route.\n\nThe protesters demanded that the bill be withdrawn – not just suspended. But they were also angry about other things too: The alleged police brutality on June 12, and the death of a protester in an [apparent suicide](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/21\/asia\/hong-kong-deaths-suicide-dark-intl-hnk\/index.html) the day before.\n\n![Protesters displaying placards during a march on June 12, 2019.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nProtesters displaying placards during a march on June 12, 2019.\n\nMiguel Candela\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket\/Getty Images\n## A government break-in\n[Marches](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/26\/asia\/protesters-hong-kong-g20-intl-hnk\/index.html) and occupations [continued](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/20\/asia\/hong-kong-protest-extradition-intl-hnk\/index.html) throughout June, but the next turning point came on [July 1](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/02\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-anger-intl\/index.html), the anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to China which has always been marked by pro-democracy demonstrations.\n\nDissent started early in the day. Protesters arrived on the streets in the early hours, and clashed with police as they tried to prevent the annual [flag](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/style\/article\/hong-kong-flag-design-protest\/index.html) raising ceremony from taking place.\n\nThat afternoon, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully through central Hong Kong. But this time, the demonstrators were split. As peaceful protesters marched, hundreds of masked, mainly young demonstrators attempted to break into the Legislative Council building.\n\nAt night, more radical protesters [stormed](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/02\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-legco-intl-hnk\/index.html) the building and occupied it for hours, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Pro-democracy lawmakers watching the chaos tried to stop the demonstrators, but were shouted down and ignored by protesters, many of whom felt desperate and bleak.\n\nMany protesters weren’t just thinking about the bill anymore – they were calling for universal suffrage in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.\n\n![Protesters shatter glass to get inside the Hong Kong's legislature building during a demonstration on July 1, 2019. ](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nProtesters shatter glass to get inside the Hong Kong's legislature building during a demonstration on July 1, 2019.\n\nMiguel Candela\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket\/Getty Images\n## Mob attack in a subway\nAs [protests continued](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/economy\/hong-kong-economy-stimulus\/index.html) in July, they began to follow a familiar pattern: A peaceful march in the day, followed by a violentface-off with the police as the day wore on.\n\nAnd the level of violence and weaponry continued to escalate. In July, police seized 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of high explosives, 10 petrol bombs, corrosive liquids, weapons and metal poles at a suspected [bomb-making factory](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/20\/asia\/hong-kong-explosives-haul-intl-hnk\/index.html).\n\nOn July 21, as protesters and police clashed on Hong Kong island, a [mob of people](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/23\/asia\/hong-kong-triad-arrests-intl-hnk\/index.html) some 31km (19 miles)away were carrying out an unprovoked attack on subway passengers using iron bars and bamboo sticks.\n\nForty-five people – some of whom were returning home from the protests – were injured in the attack.\n\nThe police took up to an hour to respond to emergency calls, prompting accusations that there was collusion between the police and the mob – and leading to further distrust of authorities among protesters.\n\n![Calvin So, 23, a resident of Yuen Long, a Hong Kong town near the border with mainland China, shows his wounds and bruises on July 24, 2019, after he was assaulted on his way home by a gang of men.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nCalvin So, 23, a resident of Yuen Long, a Hong Kong town near the border with mainland China, shows his wounds and bruises on July 24, 2019, after he was assaulted on his way home by a gang of men.\n\nANTHONY WALLACE\/AFP\/AFP\/Getty Images\n## A city-wide shut-down\nBy August, protests had [spread to neighborhoods](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/04\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-august-4-intl-hnk\/index.html) around [Hong Kong](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/13\/china\/hong-kong-protests-border-intl\/index.html). The government though showed few signs that they were willing to respond to the protesters’ demands, which included greater democracy and an inquiry into police brutality.\n\nIt was time to try something different.\n\nOn August 5, protesters led widespread strikes around the city.\n\nMore than 2,300 aviation workers joined the strike, leading to the cancellation of 224 flights to and from the airport – the 8th busiest in the world. Major subway lines were suspended, and key roads and highways were blocked. Protests took place in seven districts. In five districts, clashes broke out between police and protesters, prompting police to fire tear gas.\n\nExperts said the strikes were likely [the biggest](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/05\/asia\/hong-kong-strike-august-5-intl-hnk\/index.html) to have rocked the city since at least 1967, when Hong Kong was still a British colony.\n\n![Protesters throw back tear gas fired by the police in Wong Tai Sin during a general strike in Hong Kong on August 5, 2019. ](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nProtesters throw back tear gas fired by the police in Wong Tai Sin during a general strike in Hong Kong on August 5, 2019.\n\nANTHONY WALLACE\/AFP\/AFP\/Getty Images\n## Shutting down the world’s 8th busiest airport\nNext, protesters turned their attention to [Hong Kong’s airport](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/13\/asia\/hong-kong-protestors-airport-explained-intl\/index.html).\n\nOn the nights of August 12 and 13, the airport was [brought to a standstill](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/13\/asia\/hong-kong-airport-chaos-intl-hnk\/index.html) as demonstrators occupied parts of the building, prompting hundreds of flights to be [canceled](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos\/business\/2019\/08\/12\/hong-kong-protest-airport-wedeman-lkl-first-move.cnn\/video\/playlists\/top-news-videos\/) and leaving [passengers confused and angry](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/travel\/article\/hong-kong-travel-advice-hnk-intl-trnd\/index.html).\n\nScenes of chaos erupted among the mainly young demonstrators, who detained and beat several people they suspected of being undercover police.\n\nIn one confrontation, a [police officer](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-police-control-protests-intl\/) was attacked from behind as he held down a [protester](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/11\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-tear-gas-intl\/index.html). His baton was then taken and used against him, before the officer drew what appeared to be a pistol and aimed it at the crowd.\n\nThe scenes [demonstrated the depth of anger and frustration](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-airport-violence-intl-hnk\/index.html) among the protesters. But it also showed the fragmentation and leaderless nature of the movement, which had no central person to turn to for direction.\n\nThe next day, some protesters apologized, perhaps an acknowledgment that the violent scenes could damage support for their cause. “We apologize for our behavior but we are just too scared,” one graphic shared on social media read.\n\nAd Feedback\n\nAd Feedback\n\nAd Feedback\n\nSubscribe\n\nSign in\n\nMy Account\n\n- [Settings](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/settings)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)\n- [Topics you follow](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/follow?iid=fw_var-nav)\n- [Sign out](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/16\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-evolution-intl-hnk-trnd)\n\nYour CNN account Sign in to your CNN account\n***\n[Listen](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)   [Watch](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/watch)\n***\n- [US](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us)\n  - [Crime & Justice](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/crime-and-justice)\n  - [Immigration](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/immigration)\n  - 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A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.   \n CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.\n\n## Download the CNN app\nScan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.\n\n![Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/google-play-cnn-app-qr-code.png)\n\n## Download the CNN app\nScan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.\n\n![Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/app-store-cnn-app-qr-code.png)\n\n![CNN Logo](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn.svg)\n\n## Legal Terms and Privacy\nBy clicking Agree, you have read and agree to the Terms of Use and agree to the collection and use of your information by cookies and similar technologies, as set forth in our Privacy Policy.\n\nBy clicking \"Agree\", you have read and agree to the [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/terms) and agree to the collection and use of your information by cookies and similar technologies, as set forth in our [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/privacy).\n\n[Agree](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/16\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-evolution-intl-hnk-trnd)","attrs_readable_markdown":"**Unable to load video**\n\nPlease try again later.\n\nError occurred while fetching labs\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nChaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport\n\n02:31   • Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\nChaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport\n\n02:31\n\nHong Kong CNN —\n\nIn recent weeks, [Hong Kong](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/specials\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-intl-hnk)’s protests have been characterized by [tear gas](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/politics\/hong-kong-teargas-made-in-us\/index.html) and angry confrontations. But it wasn’t always like this.\n\n[In March](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/04\/29\/asia\/hk-protest-extradition-intl\/index.html), when residents began protesting against a [controversial bill](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/11\/opinions\/hong-kong-protests-government-abuse-judiciary-cheung\/index.html) that would enable China to extradite fugitives from the city, the weekend rallies were relatively small and peaceful.\n\nHowever, since the start of June, protesters and [police](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-police-control-protests-intl\/index.html) have [clashed](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/21\/asia\/hong-kong-protest-july-21-intl-hnk\/index.html) on multiple occasions. In August, a [city-wide strike](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/05\/asia\/hong-kong-strike-august-5-intl-hnk\/index.html) brought parts of the territory to a standstill, and almost 1,000 flights were canceled as protesters [occupied the airport](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/14\/asia\/hong-kong-airport-protests-intl-hnk\/index.html) for two days.\n\nAd Feedback\n\nAd Feedback\n\nHere’s how peaceful demonstrations against an extradition bill have grown into a large, [occasionally volatile](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-airport-violence-intl-hnk\/index.html) pro-democracy movement.\n\nThe [Hong Kong](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/travel\/article\/hong-kong-tourism-protests-intl-hnk\/index.html) government proposed the extradition bill earlier this year to close what it said was a loophole that prevented alleged criminals from being extradited to Hong Kong from other Chinese territories, including Macao and Taiwan.\n\nLawyers, pro-democracy activists and the [business community](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/11\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-china-intl-hnk\/index.html) quickly denounced the bill, and [it even provoked scuffles](https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/politics\/article\/3009821\/lawmaker-injured-legislative-council-clash-battle-over) between Hong Kong lawmakers in the city’s main government building, known as the Legislative Council, during an early debate.\n\nBut it wasn’t until June that the anti-extradition [protests](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/10\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-protest-intl-hnk\/index.html) kicked off in earnest.\n\nOn June 9, days before the bill was due to have its second reading, hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong’s central streets.There were families, young people, and elderly, many wearing white to represent justice.\n\nOrganizers [estimated the crowd size to be more than 1 million](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/08\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-bill-protest-intl\/index.html), while police said put the number at 240,000.\n\nSome thought the impressive turn-out – Hong Kong’s biggest demonstration in at least a decade – would force the government to back down. But the following day, the city’s leader [Carrie Lam](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/17\/china\/carrie-lam-hong-kong-profile-intl-hnk\/index.html) said she was [sticking by her controversial bill](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-bill-pause-intl-hnk\/index.html).\n\nFrustrated that the government wasn’t listening, protesters [began gathering](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/asia\/live-news\/hong-kong-protests-june-12-intl-hnk\/h_c3f5870dde77ec2037a4ceba8bb06677) around the Legislative Council on June 11, the night before the bill was set to have its second reading.\n\nThe following day, tens of thousands of protesters [joined the occupation](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/12\/asia\/hk-protests-extradition-intl-hnk\/index.html) on the streets outside the governmental complex, hoping to block lawmakers from being able to debate the bill. This time, they wore black – and they were prepared for a face-off.\n\nThe vast majority were young, and many came with umbrellas, hardhats and face masks.\n\nThey built barricades, completely closing off roads to traffic. With the authorities caught on the back foot, the Legislative Council meeting was rescheduled.\n\nTo some, the occupation – which began peacefully – brought back memories of Hong Kong’s [2014 Umbrella Movement](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/12\/asia\/hong-kong-umbrella-extradition-intl-hnk\/index.html), when pro democracy protesters occupied parts of the city for 79 days. “At the end of the Umbrella Movement we said we would be back,” said lawmaker Claudia Mo. “And now, we are back!”\n\nAs the afternoon wore on, the protest became tense. Police called on protesters to disperse – but more and more continued to arrive.\n\nStarting from mid-afternoon, police fired rounds of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bags – and at least 81 people were injured.\n\nThree days later,Lam backed down and [suspended](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-extradition-bill-pause-intl-hnk\/index.html) the controversial extradition bill. But if she thought that would stop the protests, she was wrong.\n\nOn June 16, even more people flooded Hong Kong’s city streets, spilling over the planned route and at least three additional streets on either side. Overhead photos showed a far larger crowd than the previous weekend’s march, or a march in 2003, which had been the city’s largest protest since the former British colony came under Chinese rule in 1997.\n\nOrganizers estimated that around [2 million](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/17\/asia\/hong-kong-china-extradition-hnk-intl\/index.html) had taken part – just over a quarter of the city’s population of 7.4 million. Police said 338,000 people had followed the original protest route.\n\nThe protesters demanded that the bill be withdrawn – not just suspended. But they were also angry about other things too: The alleged police brutality on June 12, and the death of a protester in an [apparent suicide](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/21\/asia\/hong-kong-deaths-suicide-dark-intl-hnk\/index.html) the day before.\n\n[Marches](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/26\/asia\/protesters-hong-kong-g20-intl-hnk\/index.html) and occupations [continued](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/06\/20\/asia\/hong-kong-protest-extradition-intl-hnk\/index.html) throughout June, but the next turning point came on [July 1](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/02\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-anger-intl\/index.html), the anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to China which has always been marked by pro-democracy demonstrations.\n\nDissent started early in the day. Protesters arrived on the streets in the early hours, and clashed with police as they tried to prevent the annual [flag](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/style\/article\/hong-kong-flag-design-protest\/index.html) raising ceremony from taking place.\n\nThat afternoon, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully through central Hong Kong. But this time, the demonstrators were split. As peaceful protesters marched, hundreds of masked, mainly young demonstrators attempted to break into the Legislative Council building.\n\nAt night, more radical protesters [stormed](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/02\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-legco-intl-hnk\/index.html) the building and occupied it for hours, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Pro-democracy lawmakers watching the chaos tried to stop the demonstrators, but were shouted down and ignored by protesters, many of whom felt desperate and bleak.\n\nMany protesters weren’t just thinking about the bill anymore – they were calling for universal suffrage in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.\n\nAs [protests continued](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/economy\/hong-kong-economy-stimulus\/index.html) in July, they began to follow a familiar pattern: A peaceful march in the day, followed by a violentface-off with the police as the day wore on.\n\nAnd the level of violence and weaponry continued to escalate. In July, police seized 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of high explosives, 10 petrol bombs, corrosive liquids, weapons and metal poles at a suspected [bomb-making factory](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/20\/asia\/hong-kong-explosives-haul-intl-hnk\/index.html).\n\nOn July 21, as protesters and police clashed on Hong Kong island, a [mob of people](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/23\/asia\/hong-kong-triad-arrests-intl-hnk\/index.html) some 31km (19 miles)away were carrying out an unprovoked attack on subway passengers using iron bars and bamboo sticks.\n\nForty-five people – some of whom were returning home from the protests – were injured in the attack.\n\nThe police took up to an hour to respond to emergency calls, prompting accusations that there was collusion between the police and the mob – and leading to further distrust of authorities among protesters.\n\nBy August, protests had [spread to neighborhoods](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/04\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-august-4-intl-hnk\/index.html) around [Hong Kong](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/07\/13\/china\/hong-kong-protests-border-intl\/index.html). The government though showed few signs that they were willing to respond to the protesters’ demands, which included greater democracy and an inquiry into police brutality.\n\nIt was time to try something different.\n\nOn August 5, protesters led widespread strikes around the city.\n\nMore than 2,300 aviation workers joined the strike, leading to the cancellation of 224 flights to and from the airport – the 8th busiest in the world. Major subway lines were suspended, and key roads and highways were blocked. Protests took place in seven districts. In five districts, clashes broke out between police and protesters, prompting police to fire tear gas.\n\nExperts said the strikes were likely [the biggest](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/05\/asia\/hong-kong-strike-august-5-intl-hnk\/index.html) to have rocked the city since at least 1967, when Hong Kong was still a British colony.\n\nNext, protesters turned their attention to [Hong Kong’s airport](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/13\/asia\/hong-kong-protestors-airport-explained-intl\/index.html).\n\nOn the nights of August 12 and 13, the airport was [brought to a standstill](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/13\/asia\/hong-kong-airport-chaos-intl-hnk\/index.html) as demonstrators occupied parts of the building, prompting hundreds of flights to be [canceled](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos\/business\/2019\/08\/12\/hong-kong-protest-airport-wedeman-lkl-first-move.cnn\/video\/playlists\/top-news-videos\/) and leaving [passengers confused and angry](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/travel\/article\/hong-kong-travel-advice-hnk-intl-trnd\/index.html).\n\nScenes of chaos erupted among the mainly young demonstrators, who detained and beat several people they suspected of being undercover police.\n\nIn one confrontation, a [police officer](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-police-control-protests-intl\/) was attacked from behind as he held down a [protester](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/11\/asia\/hong-kong-protests-tear-gas-intl\/index.html). His baton was then taken and used against him, before the officer drew what appeared to be a pistol and aimed it at the crowd.\n\nThe scenes [demonstrated the depth of anger and frustration](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2019\/08\/15\/asia\/hong-kong-airport-violence-intl-hnk\/index.html) among the protesters. But it also showed the fragmentation and leaderless nature of the movement, which had no central person to turn to for direction.\n\nThe next day, some protesters apologized, perhaps an acknowledgment that the violent scenes could damage support for their cause. “We apologize for our behavior but we are just too scared,” one graphic shared on social media read.","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/16/asia/hong-kong-protests-evolution-intl-hnk-trnd
Last Crawled	2026-04-05 15:35:44 (11 days ago)
First Indexed	2025-05-09 19:40:26 (11 months ago)
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Meta Title	Hong Kong protest timeline: The evolution of a movement \| CNN
Meta Description	How Hong Kong’s protest movement went from peaceful marches to an airport occupation.
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Boilerpipe Text	Unable to load video Please try again later. Error occurred while fetching labs Video Ad Feedback Chaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport 02:31 • Source: CNN Chaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport 02:31 Hong Kong CNN — In recent weeks, Hong Kong ’s protests have been characterized by tear gas and angry confrontations. But it wasn’t always like this. In March , when residents began protesting against a controversial bill that would enable China to extradite fugitives from the city, the weekend rallies were relatively small and peaceful. However, since the start of June, protesters and police have clashed on multiple occasions. In August, a city-wide strike brought parts of the territory to a standstill, and almost 1,000 flights were canceled as protesters occupied the airport for two days. Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Here’s how peaceful demonstrations against an extradition bill have grown into a large, occasionally volatile pro-democracy movement. The Hong Kong government proposed the extradition bill earlier this year to close what it said was a loophole that prevented alleged criminals from being extradited to Hong Kong from other Chinese territories, including Macao and Taiwan. Lawyers, pro-democracy activists and the business community quickly denounced the bill, and it even provoked scuffles between Hong Kong lawmakers in the city’s main government building, known as the Legislative Council, during an early debate. But it wasn’t until June that the anti-extradition protests kicked off in earnest. On June 9, days before the bill was due to have its second reading, hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong’s central streets. There were families, young people, and elderly, many wearing white to represent justice. Organizers estimated the crowd size to be more than 1 million , while police said put the number at 240,000. Some thought the impressive turn-out – Hong Kong’s biggest demonstration in at least a decade – would force the government to back down. But the following day, the city’s leader Carrie Lam said she was sticking by her controversial bill . Frustrated that the government wasn’t listening, protesters began gathering around the Legislative Council on June 11, the night before the bill was set to have its second reading. The following day, tens of thousands of protesters joined the occupation on the streets outside the governmental complex, hoping to block lawmakers from being able to debate the bill. This time, they wore black – and they were prepared for a face-off. The vast majority were young, and many came with umbrellas, hardhats and face masks. They built barricades, completely closing off roads to traffic. With the authorities caught on the back foot, the Legislative Council meeting was rescheduled. To some, the occupation – which began peacefully – brought back memories of Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Movement , when pro democracy protesters occupied parts of the city for 79 days. “At the end of the Umbrella Movement we said we would be back,” said lawmaker Claudia Mo. “And now, we are back!” As the afternoon wore on, the protest became tense. Police called on protesters to disperse – but more and more continued to arrive. Starting from mid-afternoon, police fired rounds of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bags – and at least 81 people were injured. Three days later, Lam backed down and suspended the controversial extradition bill. But if she thought that would stop the protests, she was wrong. On June 16, even more people flooded Hong Kong’s city streets, spilling over the planned route and at least three additional streets on either side. Overhead photos showed a far larger crowd than the previous weekend’s march, or a march in 2003, which had been the city’s largest protest since the former British colony came under Chinese rule in 1997. Organizers estimated that around 2 million had taken part – just over a quarter of the city’s population of 7.4 million. Police said 338,000 people had followed the original protest route. The protesters demanded that the bill be withdrawn – not just suspended. But they were also angry about other things too: The alleged police brutality on June 12, and the death of a protester in an apparent suicide the day before. Marches and occupations continued throughout June, but the next turning point came on July 1 , the anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to China which has always been marked by pro-democracy demonstrations. Dissent started early in the day. Protesters arrived on the streets in the early hours, and clashed with police as they tried to prevent the annual flag raising ceremony from taking place. That afternoon, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully through central Hong Kong. But this time, the demonstrators were split. As peaceful protesters marched, hundreds of masked, mainly young demonstrators attempted to break into the Legislative Council building. At night, more radical protesters stormed the building and occupied it for hours, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Pro-democracy lawmakers watching the chaos tried to stop the demonstrators, but were shouted down and ignored by protesters, many of whom felt desperate and bleak. Many protesters weren’t just thinking about the bill anymore – they were calling for universal suffrage in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. As protests continued in July, they began to follow a familiar pattern: A peaceful march in the day, followed by a violent face-off with the police as the day wore on. And the level of violence and weaponry continued to escalate. In July, police seized 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of high explosives, 10 petrol bombs, corrosive liquids, weapons and metal poles at a suspected bomb-making factory . On July 21, as protesters and police clashed on Hong Kong island, a mob of people some 31km (19 miles) away were carrying out an unprovoked attack on subway passengers using iron bars and bamboo sticks. Forty-five people – some of whom were returning home from the protests – were injured in the attack. The police took up to an hour to respond to emergency calls, prompting accusations that there was collusion between the police and the mob – and leading to further distrust of authorities among protesters. By August, protests had spread to neighborhoods around Hong Kong . The government though showed few signs that they were willing to respond to the protesters’ demands, which included greater democracy and an inquiry into police brutality. It was time to try something different. On August 5, protesters led widespread strikes around the city. More than 2,300 aviation workers joined the strike, leading to the cancellation of 224 flights to and from the airport – the 8th busiest in the world. Major subway lines were suspended, and key roads and highways were blocked. Protests took place in seven districts. In five districts, clashes broke out between police and protesters, prompting police to fire tear gas. Experts said the strikes were likely the biggest to have rocked the city since at least 1967, when Hong Kong was still a British colony. Next, protesters turned their attention to Hong Kong’s airport . On the nights of August 12 and 13, the airport was brought to a standstill as demonstrators occupied parts of the building, prompting hundreds of flights to be canceled and leaving passengers confused and angry . Scenes of chaos erupted among the mainly young demonstrators, who detained and beat several people they suspected of being undercover police. In one confrontation, a police officer was attacked from behind as he held down a protester . His baton was then taken and used against him, before the officer drew what appeared to be a pistol and aimed it at the crowd. The scenes demonstrated the depth of anger and frustration among the protesters. But it also showed the fragmentation and leaderless nature of the movement, which had no central person to turn to for direction. The next day, some protesters apologized, perhaps an acknowledgment that the violent scenes could damage support for their cause. “We apologize for our behavior but we are just too scared,” one graphic shared on social media read.
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Unable to load video Please try again later. Error occurred while fetching labs Subtitles - Off Video Ad Feedback Chaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport 02:31 • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) Chaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport 02:31 Hong Kong CNN — In recent weeks, [Hong Kong](https://www.cnn.com/specials/asia/hong-kong-protests-intl-hnk)’s protests have been characterized by [tear gas](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/politics/hong-kong-teargas-made-in-us/index.html) and angry confrontations. But it wasn’t always like this. [In March](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/asia/hk-protest-extradition-intl/index.html), when residents began protesting against a [controversial bill](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/11/opinions/hong-kong-protests-government-abuse-judiciary-cheung/index.html) that would enable China to extradite fugitives from the city, the weekend rallies were relatively small and peaceful. However, since the start of June, protesters and [police](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/asia/hong-kong-police-control-protests-intl/index.html) have [clashed](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/21/asia/hong-kong-protest-july-21-intl-hnk/index.html) on multiple occasions. In August, a [city-wide strike](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/05/asia/hong-kong-strike-august-5-intl-hnk/index.html) brought parts of the territory to a standstill, and almost 1,000 flights were canceled as protesters [occupied the airport](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/14/asia/hong-kong-airport-protests-intl-hnk/index.html) for two days. Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Here’s how peaceful demonstrations against an extradition bill have grown into a large, [occasionally volatile](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/asia/hong-kong-airport-violence-intl-hnk/index.html) pro-democracy movement. ![Protesters occupy the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport during a demonstration on August 12, 2019.](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Protesters occupy the departure hall of the Hong Kong International Airport during a demonstration on August 12, 2019. Anthony Kwan/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images ## A sea of white The [Hong Kong](https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/hong-kong-tourism-protests-intl-hnk/index.html) government proposed the extradition bill earlier this year to close what it said was a loophole that prevented alleged criminals from being extradited to Hong Kong from other Chinese territories, including Macao and Taiwan. Lawyers, pro-democracy activists and the [business community](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/11/asia/hong-kong-extradition-china-intl-hnk/index.html) quickly denounced the bill, and [it even provoked scuffles](https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3009821/lawmaker-injured-legislative-council-clash-battle-over) between Hong Kong lawmakers in the city’s main government building, known as the Legislative Council, during an early debate. But it wasn’t until June that the anti-extradition [protests](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/10/asia/hong-kong-extradition-protest-intl-hnk/index.html) kicked off in earnest. On June 9, days before the bill was due to have its second reading, hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong’s central streets.There were families, young people, and elderly, many wearing white to represent justice. Organizers [estimated the crowd size to be more than 1 million](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/08/asia/hong-kong-extradition-bill-protest-intl/index.html), while police said put the number at 240,000. Some thought the impressive turn-out – Hong Kong’s biggest demonstration in at least a decade – would force the government to back down. But the following day, the city’s leader [Carrie Lam](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/17/china/carrie-lam-hong-kong-profile-intl-hnk/index.html) said she was [sticking by her controversial bill](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/15/asia/hong-kong-extradition-bill-pause-intl-hnk/index.html). ![Protesters march on a street during a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal on June 9, 2019.](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Protesters march on a street during a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal on June 9, 2019. Anthony Kwan/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images ## The first occupation Frustrated that the government wasn’t listening, protesters [began gathering](https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protests-june-12-intl-hnk/h_c3f5870dde77ec2037a4ceba8bb06677) around the Legislative Council on June 11, the night before the bill was set to have its second reading. The following day, tens of thousands of protesters [joined the occupation](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/12/asia/hk-protests-extradition-intl-hnk/index.html) on the streets outside the governmental complex, hoping to block lawmakers from being able to debate the bill. This time, they wore black – and they were prepared for a face-off. The vast majority were young, and many came with umbrellas, hardhats and face masks. They built barricades, completely closing off roads to traffic. With the authorities caught on the back foot, the Legislative Council meeting was rescheduled. To some, the occupation – which began peacefully – brought back memories of Hong Kong’s [2014 Umbrella Movement](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/12/asia/hong-kong-umbrella-extradition-intl-hnk/index.html), when pro democracy protesters occupied parts of the city for 79 days. “At the end of the Umbrella Movement we said we would be back,” said lawmaker Claudia Mo. “And now, we are back!” As the afternoon wore on, the protest became tense. Police called on protesters to disperse – but more and more continued to arrive. Starting from mid-afternoon, police fired rounds of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bags – and at least 81 people were injured. ![A protester douses a tear gas canister with water outside the Legislative Council during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong, China. ](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) A protester douses a tear gas canister with water outside the Legislative Council during a protest against a proposed extradition law in Hong Kong, China. Justin Chin/Bloomberg/Getty Images ## The 2 million march Three days later,Lam backed down and [suspended](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/15/asia/hong-kong-extradition-bill-pause-intl-hnk/index.html) the controversial extradition bill. But if she thought that would stop the protests, she was wrong. On June 16, even more people flooded Hong Kong’s city streets, spilling over the planned route and at least three additional streets on either side. Overhead photos showed a far larger crowd than the previous weekend’s march, or a march in 2003, which had been the city’s largest protest since the former British colony came under Chinese rule in 1997. Organizers estimated that around [2 million](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/17/asia/hong-kong-china-extradition-hnk-intl/index.html) had taken part – just over a quarter of the city’s population of 7.4 million. Police said 338,000 people had followed the original protest route. The protesters demanded that the bill be withdrawn – not just suspended. But they were also angry about other things too: The alleged police brutality on June 12, and the death of a protester in an [apparent suicide](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/21/asia/hong-kong-deaths-suicide-dark-intl-hnk/index.html) the day before. ![Protesters displaying placards during a march on June 12, 2019.](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Protesters displaying placards during a march on June 12, 2019. Miguel Candela/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images ## A government break-in [Marches](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/26/asia/protesters-hong-kong-g20-intl-hnk/index.html) and occupations [continued](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/20/asia/hong-kong-protest-extradition-intl-hnk/index.html) throughout June, but the next turning point came on [July 1](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/02/asia/hong-kong-protests-anger-intl/index.html), the anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to China which has always been marked by pro-democracy demonstrations. Dissent started early in the day. Protesters arrived on the streets in the early hours, and clashed with police as they tried to prevent the annual [flag](https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/hong-kong-flag-design-protest/index.html) raising ceremony from taking place. That afternoon, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully through central Hong Kong. But this time, the demonstrators were split. As peaceful protesters marched, hundreds of masked, mainly young demonstrators attempted to break into the Legislative Council building. At night, more radical protesters [stormed](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/02/asia/hong-kong-protests-legco-intl-hnk/index.html) the building and occupied it for hours, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Pro-democracy lawmakers watching the chaos tried to stop the demonstrators, but were shouted down and ignored by protesters, many of whom felt desperate and bleak. Many protesters weren’t just thinking about the bill anymore – they were calling for universal suffrage in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. ![Protesters shatter glass to get inside the Hong Kong's legislature building during a demonstration on July 1, 2019. ](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Protesters shatter glass to get inside the Hong Kong's legislature building during a demonstration on July 1, 2019. Miguel Candela/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images ## Mob attack in a subway As [protests continued](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/15/economy/hong-kong-economy-stimulus/index.html) in July, they began to follow a familiar pattern: A peaceful march in the day, followed by a violentface-off with the police as the day wore on. And the level of violence and weaponry continued to escalate. In July, police seized 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of high explosives, 10 petrol bombs, corrosive liquids, weapons and metal poles at a suspected [bomb-making factory](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/20/asia/hong-kong-explosives-haul-intl-hnk/index.html). On July 21, as protesters and police clashed on Hong Kong island, a [mob of people](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/23/asia/hong-kong-triad-arrests-intl-hnk/index.html) some 31km (19 miles)away were carrying out an unprovoked attack on subway passengers using iron bars and bamboo sticks. Forty-five people – some of whom were returning home from the protests – were injured in the attack. The police took up to an hour to respond to emergency calls, prompting accusations that there was collusion between the police and the mob – and leading to further distrust of authorities among protesters. ![Calvin So, 23, a resident of Yuen Long, a Hong Kong town near the border with mainland China, shows his wounds and bruises on July 24, 2019, after he was assaulted on his way home by a gang of men.](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Calvin So, 23, a resident of Yuen Long, a Hong Kong town near the border with mainland China, shows his wounds and bruises on July 24, 2019, after he was assaulted on his way home by a gang of men. ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images ## A city-wide shut-down By August, protests had [spread to neighborhoods](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/04/asia/hong-kong-protests-august-4-intl-hnk/index.html) around [Hong Kong](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/13/china/hong-kong-protests-border-intl/index.html). The government though showed few signs that they were willing to respond to the protesters’ demands, which included greater democracy and an inquiry into police brutality. It was time to try something different. On August 5, protesters led widespread strikes around the city. More than 2,300 aviation workers joined the strike, leading to the cancellation of 224 flights to and from the airport – the 8th busiest in the world. Major subway lines were suspended, and key roads and highways were blocked. Protests took place in seven districts. In five districts, clashes broke out between police and protesters, prompting police to fire tear gas. Experts said the strikes were likely [the biggest](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/05/asia/hong-kong-strike-august-5-intl-hnk/index.html) to have rocked the city since at least 1967, when Hong Kong was still a British colony. ![Protesters throw back tear gas fired by the police in Wong Tai Sin during a general strike in Hong Kong on August 5, 2019. ](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Protesters throw back tear gas fired by the police in Wong Tai Sin during a general strike in Hong Kong on August 5, 2019. ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images ## Shutting down the world’s 8th busiest airport Next, protesters turned their attention to [Hong Kong’s airport](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/13/asia/hong-kong-protestors-airport-explained-intl/index.html). On the nights of August 12 and 13, the airport was [brought to a standstill](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/13/asia/hong-kong-airport-chaos-intl-hnk/index.html) as demonstrators occupied parts of the building, prompting hundreds of flights to be [canceled](https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2019/08/12/hong-kong-protest-airport-wedeman-lkl-first-move.cnn/video/playlists/top-news-videos/) and leaving [passengers confused and angry](https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/hong-kong-travel-advice-hnk-intl-trnd/index.html). Scenes of chaos erupted among the mainly young demonstrators, who detained and beat several people they suspected of being undercover police. In one confrontation, a [police officer](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/asia/hong-kong-police-control-protests-intl/) was attacked from behind as he held down a [protester](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/11/asia/hong-kong-protests-tear-gas-intl/index.html). His baton was then taken and used against him, before the officer drew what appeared to be a pistol and aimed it at the crowd. The scenes [demonstrated the depth of anger and frustration](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/asia/hong-kong-airport-violence-intl-hnk/index.html) among the protesters. But it also showed the fragmentation and leaderless nature of the movement, which had no central person to turn to for direction. The next day, some protesters apologized, perhaps an acknowledgment that the violent scenes could damage support for their cause. “We apologize for our behavior but we are just too scared,” one graphic shared on social media read. 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Readable Markdown	Unable to load video Please try again later. Error occurred while fetching labs Video Ad Feedback Chaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport 02:31 • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) Chaos paralyzes Hong Kong airport 02:31 Hong Kong CNN — In recent weeks, [Hong Kong](https://www.cnn.com/specials/asia/hong-kong-protests-intl-hnk)’s protests have been characterized by [tear gas](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/politics/hong-kong-teargas-made-in-us/index.html) and angry confrontations. But it wasn’t always like this. [In March](https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/asia/hk-protest-extradition-intl/index.html), when residents began protesting against a [controversial bill](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/11/opinions/hong-kong-protests-government-abuse-judiciary-cheung/index.html) that would enable China to extradite fugitives from the city, the weekend rallies were relatively small and peaceful. However, since the start of June, protesters and [police](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/asia/hong-kong-police-control-protests-intl/index.html) have [clashed](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/21/asia/hong-kong-protest-july-21-intl-hnk/index.html) on multiple occasions. In August, a [city-wide strike](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/05/asia/hong-kong-strike-august-5-intl-hnk/index.html) brought parts of the territory to a standstill, and almost 1,000 flights were canceled as protesters [occupied the airport](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/14/asia/hong-kong-airport-protests-intl-hnk/index.html) for two days. Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Here’s how peaceful demonstrations against an extradition bill have grown into a large, [occasionally volatile](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/asia/hong-kong-airport-violence-intl-hnk/index.html) pro-democracy movement. The [Hong Kong](https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/hong-kong-tourism-protests-intl-hnk/index.html) government proposed the extradition bill earlier this year to close what it said was a loophole that prevented alleged criminals from being extradited to Hong Kong from other Chinese territories, including Macao and Taiwan. Lawyers, pro-democracy activists and the [business community](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/11/asia/hong-kong-extradition-china-intl-hnk/index.html) quickly denounced the bill, and [it even provoked scuffles](https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3009821/lawmaker-injured-legislative-council-clash-battle-over) between Hong Kong lawmakers in the city’s main government building, known as the Legislative Council, during an early debate. But it wasn’t until June that the anti-extradition [protests](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/10/asia/hong-kong-extradition-protest-intl-hnk/index.html) kicked off in earnest. On June 9, days before the bill was due to have its second reading, hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong’s central streets.There were families, young people, and elderly, many wearing white to represent justice. Organizers [estimated the crowd size to be more than 1 million](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/08/asia/hong-kong-extradition-bill-protest-intl/index.html), while police said put the number at 240,000. Some thought the impressive turn-out – Hong Kong’s biggest demonstration in at least a decade – would force the government to back down. But the following day, the city’s leader [Carrie Lam](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/17/china/carrie-lam-hong-kong-profile-intl-hnk/index.html) said she was [sticking by her controversial bill](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/15/asia/hong-kong-extradition-bill-pause-intl-hnk/index.html). Frustrated that the government wasn’t listening, protesters [began gathering](https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/hong-kong-protests-june-12-intl-hnk/h_c3f5870dde77ec2037a4ceba8bb06677) around the Legislative Council on June 11, the night before the bill was set to have its second reading. The following day, tens of thousands of protesters [joined the occupation](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/12/asia/hk-protests-extradition-intl-hnk/index.html) on the streets outside the governmental complex, hoping to block lawmakers from being able to debate the bill. This time, they wore black – and they were prepared for a face-off. The vast majority were young, and many came with umbrellas, hardhats and face masks. They built barricades, completely closing off roads to traffic. With the authorities caught on the back foot, the Legislative Council meeting was rescheduled. To some, the occupation – which began peacefully – brought back memories of Hong Kong’s [2014 Umbrella Movement](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/12/asia/hong-kong-umbrella-extradition-intl-hnk/index.html), when pro democracy protesters occupied parts of the city for 79 days. “At the end of the Umbrella Movement we said we would be back,” said lawmaker Claudia Mo. “And now, we are back!” As the afternoon wore on, the protest became tense. Police called on protesters to disperse – but more and more continued to arrive. Starting from mid-afternoon, police fired rounds of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bags – and at least 81 people were injured. Three days later,Lam backed down and [suspended](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/15/asia/hong-kong-extradition-bill-pause-intl-hnk/index.html) the controversial extradition bill. But if she thought that would stop the protests, she was wrong. On June 16, even more people flooded Hong Kong’s city streets, spilling over the planned route and at least three additional streets on either side. Overhead photos showed a far larger crowd than the previous weekend’s march, or a march in 2003, which had been the city’s largest protest since the former British colony came under Chinese rule in 1997. Organizers estimated that around [2 million](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/17/asia/hong-kong-china-extradition-hnk-intl/index.html) had taken part – just over a quarter of the city’s population of 7.4 million. Police said 338,000 people had followed the original protest route. The protesters demanded that the bill be withdrawn – not just suspended. But they were also angry about other things too: The alleged police brutality on June 12, and the death of a protester in an [apparent suicide](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/21/asia/hong-kong-deaths-suicide-dark-intl-hnk/index.html) the day before. [Marches](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/26/asia/protesters-hong-kong-g20-intl-hnk/index.html) and occupations [continued](https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/20/asia/hong-kong-protest-extradition-intl-hnk/index.html) throughout June, but the next turning point came on [July 1](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/02/asia/hong-kong-protests-anger-intl/index.html), the anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to China which has always been marked by pro-democracy demonstrations. Dissent started early in the day. Protesters arrived on the streets in the early hours, and clashed with police as they tried to prevent the annual [flag](https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/hong-kong-flag-design-protest/index.html) raising ceremony from taking place. That afternoon, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched peacefully through central Hong Kong. But this time, the demonstrators were split. As peaceful protesters marched, hundreds of masked, mainly young demonstrators attempted to break into the Legislative Council building. At night, more radical protesters [stormed](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/02/asia/hong-kong-protests-legco-intl-hnk/index.html) the building and occupied it for hours, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Pro-democracy lawmakers watching the chaos tried to stop the demonstrators, but were shouted down and ignored by protesters, many of whom felt desperate and bleak. Many protesters weren’t just thinking about the bill anymore – they were calling for universal suffrage in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. As [protests continued](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/15/economy/hong-kong-economy-stimulus/index.html) in July, they began to follow a familiar pattern: A peaceful march in the day, followed by a violentface-off with the police as the day wore on. And the level of violence and weaponry continued to escalate. In July, police seized 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of high explosives, 10 petrol bombs, corrosive liquids, weapons and metal poles at a suspected [bomb-making factory](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/20/asia/hong-kong-explosives-haul-intl-hnk/index.html). On July 21, as protesters and police clashed on Hong Kong island, a [mob of people](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/23/asia/hong-kong-triad-arrests-intl-hnk/index.html) some 31km (19 miles)away were carrying out an unprovoked attack on subway passengers using iron bars and bamboo sticks. Forty-five people – some of whom were returning home from the protests – were injured in the attack. The police took up to an hour to respond to emergency calls, prompting accusations that there was collusion between the police and the mob – and leading to further distrust of authorities among protesters. By August, protests had [spread to neighborhoods](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/04/asia/hong-kong-protests-august-4-intl-hnk/index.html) around [Hong Kong](https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/13/china/hong-kong-protests-border-intl/index.html). The government though showed few signs that they were willing to respond to the protesters’ demands, which included greater democracy and an inquiry into police brutality. It was time to try something different. On August 5, protesters led widespread strikes around the city. More than 2,300 aviation workers joined the strike, leading to the cancellation of 224 flights to and from the airport – the 8th busiest in the world. Major subway lines were suspended, and key roads and highways were blocked. Protests took place in seven districts. In five districts, clashes broke out between police and protesters, prompting police to fire tear gas. Experts said the strikes were likely [the biggest](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/05/asia/hong-kong-strike-august-5-intl-hnk/index.html) to have rocked the city since at least 1967, when Hong Kong was still a British colony. Next, protesters turned their attention to [Hong Kong’s airport](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/13/asia/hong-kong-protestors-airport-explained-intl/index.html). On the nights of August 12 and 13, the airport was [brought to a standstill](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/13/asia/hong-kong-airport-chaos-intl-hnk/index.html) as demonstrators occupied parts of the building, prompting hundreds of flights to be [canceled](https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2019/08/12/hong-kong-protest-airport-wedeman-lkl-first-move.cnn/video/playlists/top-news-videos/) and leaving [passengers confused and angry](https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/hong-kong-travel-advice-hnk-intl-trnd/index.html). Scenes of chaos erupted among the mainly young demonstrators, who detained and beat several people they suspected of being undercover police. In one confrontation, a [police officer](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/asia/hong-kong-police-control-protests-intl/) was attacked from behind as he held down a [protester](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/11/asia/hong-kong-protests-tear-gas-intl/index.html). His baton was then taken and used against him, before the officer drew what appeared to be a pistol and aimed it at the crowd. The scenes [demonstrated the depth of anger and frustration](https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/15/asia/hong-kong-airport-violence-intl-hnk/index.html) among the protesters. But it also showed the fragmentation and leaderless nature of the movement, which had no central person to turn to for direction. The next day, some protesters apologized, perhaps an acknowledgment that the violent scenes could damage support for their cause. “We apologize for our behavior but we are just too scared,” one graphic shared on social media read.
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